Third Graders Hospitalized After Ingesting THC Edibles – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

Four students at a California elementary school were hospitalized Wednesday after eating edibles, or food laced with THC. The students, who are all in third grade, attended North Broadway Elementary School in Escondido. 

Emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the school, and the students were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Following the incident, the Escondido Union School District alerted the community about the risks of cannabis edibles. 

In a statement, per NBC San Diego, the Escondido School District said, “The widespread availability and commercialization of THC-infused ‘edibles’ is a growing concern for school communities statewide, including ours.”

School authorities across San Diego County say the cannabis edibles can be readily confused with ordinary snacks and candy. The district emphasized that edibles are prohibited at all school-related events and activities.

Since the 2015 legalization of cannabis, Rady Children’s Hospital has seen a surge in children treated for ingestion, increasing from a few cases to hundreds annually. The hospital reports the average age of these patients is roughly 3.5 years, according to NBC San Diego. Overconsumption of cannabis in children can pose severe, potentially life-threatening effects.

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