04/10/2022
You might have seen on the news on Monday that 14 elementary children were taken to the hospital for feeling sick after unknowingly ingesting ma*****na candy. Ma*****na edibles are not well packaged for children to recognize the difference and therefore can easily be mistaken for regular candy. This past week a fellow physician took her daughter to the Albuquerque Art Walk where ma*****na edibles were openly being sold so she used it as an opportunity to educate her 7yr old on how to identify them to avoid eating them.
Edible forms of cannabis, or ma*****na, contain a more concentrated version of cannabis, which can be harmful for children. For most children, eating a cannabis edible will make them sleepy, anxious, weak, slurred speech, poor coordination. However, some children can develop serious side effects like breathing difficulty, heart problems and seizures?
How to protect your children?
- safely store your edibles away from the reach of children and locked away
- avoid consuming edibles in front of your children
- avoid purchasing edibles in packaging that might attract the attention of your kids
-must have this conversation with your family members and friends who also care for your kids
- post the NM Poison Control phone number where everyone can see it in your home
-talk to your kids about the dangers of ma*****na. Some kids and teenagers may laugh at a friend's behavior under the influence of ma*****na but this is not a laughing matter.
As usual your trusted Pediatrician, Dr. Ross, is always ready and able to have these conversations with your kids if you ever need help!
