Child Cannabis Overdose Signs: What Parents Should Do

What are the signs of a cannabis overdose in a child?

The first signs of cannabis poisoning in a child often show up 30 minutes to 2 hours after an edible is eaten. The most common early signs are sleepiness that does not match the child's normal routine, unsteady walking, vomiting, confusion, and wide pupils. Some children become agitated instead of sleepy and cry without settling. Serious cases involve slow or shallow breathing, seizures, and a child who cannot be woken. Treat any suspected ingestion as an emergency. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance, and call 911 if the child has trouble breathing, has a seizure, or does not respond.

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Signs to watch for

Mild to moderate exposure

• Sleepiness or a child who is hard to keep awake
• Unsteady walking, swaying, or trouble sitting up
• Vomiting or retching
• Confusion, staring, or slow responses
• Dilated pupils
• Fast heart rate
• Agitation, crying, or panic
• Dizziness and loss of balance

Severe exposure, call 911

• Breathing that is slow, shallow, or noisy
• Seizure or muscle jerking
• Unresponsive or cannot be woken
• Blue or gray lips, face, or fingertips
• Repeated vomiting with no pause

Why children react harder than adults

Children weigh less, so a dose that feels mild to an adult can be large for a small body. Edibles make this worse. THC in food is absorbed over time, so a child may eat a full serving or more before any effect appears. A single edible can hold 10 mg of THC or more, and the packaging often looks like candy, cookies, or chocolate. Symptoms in children can last for hours and may need emergency care, even when the amount eaten seemed small.

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What to do if you think your child ate cannabis

1. Move the child away from any remaining product and keep the package.
2. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 and describe what was eaten, how much, and when.
3. Call 911 if the child has trouble breathing, has a seizure, or cannot be woken.
4. Stay with the child and watch their breathing while you wait for help.
5. Lay the child on their side if they are vomiting or very sleepy.
6. Keep the packaging and any leftover pieces for the responders.
7. Follow the instructions from Poison Help or 911 about going to the emergency room.

What not to do

• Do not make the child vomit unless a poison expert tells you to.
• Do not give food, milk, or soda to sober them up.
• Do not leave the child alone to sleep it off.
• Do not wait for symptoms to get worse before you call.

How to prevent child cannabis poisoning

• Store cannabis and edibles in a locked box, not a drawer, purse, or freezer.
• Keep products in the original child-resistant package with the label intact.
• Skip edibles that look like candy, gummies, or baked goods when children are in the home.
• Use cannabis away from children and clean up crumbs, wrappers, and roaches.
• Tell sitters, grandparents, and guests that edibles must stay out of reach.