Kids Accidentally Ate Cannabis? What to Do Right Now

If a child ate cannabis, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away, and call 911 if the child is hard to wake, breathing slowly or with effort, or having a seizure. Do not force vomiting unless a poison specialist or doctor tells you to. Symptoms usually begin 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating an edible and can last 12 hours or longer.

kids cannabis ingestion emergency

Most cases are not life-threatening, but young children can get seriously ill from doses that would barely affect an adult. Fast medical guidance is what separates a scary afternoon from a real emergency.

kids cannabis edible symptoms

What should I do if my kid accidentally ate cannabis?

1. Stay with the child and keep them calm, in a safe place.
2. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. It is free, confidential, and staffed 24/7.
3. Save the package or photograph it, including the THC milligrams and product name.
4. Call 911 for slow or labored breathing, seizures, repeated vomiting, or if the child cannot be woken.

What are the signs a child ate a THC edible?

Watch for these in the first few hours after exposure:

child accidentally consumed weed

• Extreme drowsiness or trouble staying awake
• Wobbling, unsteady walking, or slurred speech
• Vomiting
• Confusion, agitation, or crying that will not stop
• Fast or pounding heartbeat
• Dilated pupils
• Slow or labored breathing
• Seizures or muscle twitching

Children can go from playful to deeply sedated in a short window. If they do not respond to your voice or a gentle touch, that is a 911 call.

How much THC is too much for a child?

One adult serving in most states is 5 to 10 mg of THC, and a single candy, gummy, or cookie often contains several servings. Toddlers have been hospitalized after eating only part of one package. There is no established safe dose of THC for a young child.

Why are edibles the main danger?

Edibles drive most pediatric cannabis poisoning reports because they look and taste like candy, cookies, gummies, and brownies. THC in food absorbs slowly, so a child may eat a large amount before any effect appears. That delay also tempts adults to add more "because nothing happened yet."

What should I not do?

• Do not make the child throw up unless a professional instructs you.
• Do not try milk, bread, or home remedies to absorb the drug.
• Do not wait to see whether symptoms pass on their own.
• Do not leave the child alone or let them sleep unsupervised.

How do I keep edibles away from kids?

• Store all cannabis in a locked box, out of sight and out of reach.
• Keep products in child-resistant original packaging, never in a candy dish or open pantry shelf.
• Skip candy-shaped and brightly colored products if children are in the home.
• Do not vape or eat edibles in front of kids, and treat every product like a medication hazard.

What happens at the hospital?

Clinicians monitor breathing, heart rate, and hydration, then treat symptoms as they appear. Most children recover fully with fluids, rest, and observation. Severe cases may need oxygen, breathing support, or care in an intensive care unit.

What information should I bring?

Bring the product package, the milligrams of THC it contained, when symptoms started, and the child's weight. That detail helps clinicians decide how closely to watch the child. Being honest about cannabis exposure will not get you in trouble, and it makes care faster and safer.