More Kids Accidentally Ingest Marijuana: Children Eat Pot Cookies

Although some applaud states that have legalized recreational pot and have more relaxed laws for medical marijuana, there are some of those who are concerned. New research reveals that kids may be more likely to accidentally ingest marijuana in dangerously high doses.

In the latest study, researchers examined the cases of children accidentally ingesting the substance. They found that during the five years preceding October 2009, the year when the Justice Department determined that medical marijuana users would no longer be prosecuted, there were no cases of marijuana ingestion among children younger than 12 in Colorado children's hospital. Yet fast forward a few years between 2009 and 2011 and you'll find that 14 of 588 accidental ingestions were marijuana-related, according to Medpage Today.

Currently, at least 18 states allow medical marijuana. In addition, Washington and Colorado have legalized the use of recreational marijuana, which means that the number of accidental ingestions by children is likely to continue to rise.

"Historically, significant effects following unintentional pediatric marijuana ingestions were very rare, probably due to the poor palatability of the marijuana plant and the enforcement of existing drug laws," said George Sam Wang, one of the researchers who conducted the study, in an interview with MedPage Today.

In fact, the real problem is the fact that marijuana is being made into a palatable form that's appealing to children. The substance can be found in baked goods and soft drinks--and kids often don't know any better when they grab a sweet from a counter.

"They're sold as edible products and soft drinks that kids will eat or drink because they don't know it's any different," said Wang in an interview with Time magazine. "If they're going to eat a whole cookie with 300 mg of THC, they will get much more symptomatic and sick and have to be admitted to the hospital."

During the course of the study, the researchers found that the children that accidentally ingested the substance showed several key symptoms. They included sleepiness, lethargy, ataxia in one case and respiratory insufficiency in one severe case. Yet symptoms could also include anxiety, hallucinations, panic episodes, dyspnea, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and coma.

Currently, the researchers recommend that parents should be especially aware of where marijuana is being kept in a house. In addition, physicians should also be aware of the possibility of marijuana exposures and should be familiar with the symptoms.

The findings are published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.