If a child ate cannabis, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Stay with the child, keep the package, and write down what they ate and when. Call 911 if the child is hard to wake, has trouble breathing, has a seizure, or turns pale or bluish. Most children recover, but small bodies react strongly to THC, and one edible can hold several adult doses.
What to Do First
- Take the product away from the child and put it somewhere they cannot reach again.
- Save the packaging. You need the THC or CBD amount per piece and how many pieces are left.
- Estimate how much the child ate and note the time. Ranges are fine, and you do not need an exact number to get help.
- Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. The call is free and the line runs 24 hours a day.
- Keep the child in sight. Do not leave them alone or let them sleep in another room.
- Call 911 if breathing slows, the child cannot be woken, or a seizure starts.
- Follow the instructions you receive. Go to the emergency room if Poison Control or 911 tells you to.
Symptoms and Timing
Edibles work differently than smoked cannabis. A child who eats a gummy or a brownie may seem fine for the first 30 to 60 minutes, then get sleepy and unsteady on their feet. Peak effects usually arrive 2 to 4 hours after eating, and symptoms can last 6 to 12 hours or longer.
Common signs include heavy sleepiness, trouble walking, slurred speech, vomiting, a fast heartbeat, confusion, agitation, and wide pupils. Serious signs include slow or shallow breathing, unresponsiveness, seizures, and coma. Those need emergency care.
What Not to Do
- Do not make the child vomit. It does not clear THC and it raises the risk of choking.
- Do not give coffee, energy drinks, or home remedies.
- Do not wait it out if the child is breathing slowly or cannot be woken.
- Do not assume a CBD only label means zero risk.
Why CBD Products Still Matter
Full spectrum CBD oils and gummies can contain THC. Labels are not always accurate, and potency varies by brand. A product sold as CBD may carry enough THC to affect a 30 pound child. Treat every cannabis product, CBD included, as something to lock away.
Preventing the Next Time
- Store edibles, vape carts, and oils in a locked box, not in a purse, drawer, or car console.
- Keep products in child-resistant containers and above eye level.
- Count edibles after each use so a missing piece gets noticed.
- Buy from brands that publish lab results for potency and contaminants.
- Tell guests and babysitters where cannabis is kept and that it is off limits.
- Pick plain packaging when you can. Candy-style wrappers attract kids.