Kids Accidentally Ate Cannabis: What to Do Right Now

If kids accidentally ate cannabis, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away and stay on the line for guidance. Call 911 if the child is hard to wake, has trouble breathing, or has a seizure. Do not try to make the child throw up, and do not wait for symptoms before you call.

Why Cannabis Edibles Are Risky for Children

Cannabis edibles often look like candy, cookies, gummies, or chocolate, so a young child has no way to tell them apart from a normal snack. Body weight matters too. A dose that feels mild for an adult can affect a small child far more strongly, and edibles are absorbed slowly, so early symptoms may not show up when a parent expects them.

Signs a Child May Have Eaten Cannabis

Symptoms can start anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours after an edible, and they can build over time. Watch for:

• Unsteadiness, clumsy walking, or trouble standing
• Sleepiness that is hard to wake from, or falling asleep in a strange way
• Vomiting or nausea
• Dilated pupils, glassy eyes, or staring
• Agitation, confusion, or crying that cannot be calmed
• Fast heart rate or shaky movements
• In serious cases, slowed breathing, seizures, or loss of consciousness

What to Do Right Away

1. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. The service is free and runs 24 hours a day. Tell them the child's age and weight.
2. Find the product. Read the label for THC content, total milligrams, and how many pieces were in the package. Keep the package with you.
3. Estimate how much was eaten. Check how many pieces are missing, or how much of the item is gone.
4. Note the time. Tell Poison Control when you think the child ate it.
5. Keep the child calm and supervised. Do not leave them alone while you wait for advice or for symptoms.
6. Follow the instructions you are given. Poison Control may tell you to watch at home or to go to the emergency department.

What Not to Do

• Do not induce vomiting unless a medical professional tells you to.
• Do not give the child food, milk, or coffee to "soak it up."
• Do not wait to see if symptoms pass before calling for advice.
• Do not hide what happened from caregivers or medical staff. They need accurate details to help.

If You Go to the Emergency Department

Bring the packaging, even if it is empty. ER staff will likely monitor heart rate, breathing, and alertness, and may use fluids or other supportive care. Children often recover well with supervision, but the effects of an edible can last several hours and sometimes into the next day, so a period of observation is common.

Preventing Accidental Ingestion at Home

• Store THC products in a locked box or high cabinet out of sight.
• Keep edibles in the original child-resistant packaging, never in a food bag or candy jar.
• Treat edibles like medication, not like snacks.
• Check the floor, couch, and car for dropped pieces after use.
• Tell babysitters, grandparents, and guests that edibles are in the house and where they are kept.
• Buy products with clear dosing labels so you always know the total THC in the package.

Talking to Older Kids and Teens

Curiosity is part of why kids accidentally ate cannabis in some homes. A short, honest talk works better than a lecture: name the product, explain that marijuana affects a growing brain differently, and make the rule clear that edibles are for adults only. If a teen or older child does try a product, the same rule applies. Call Poison Control for guidance instead of handling it alone.