Marijuana is legal for adults 21 and older to buy and consume in New York. But in the hands of a child or teen, the substance could result in cannabis poisoning.
According to a recent report from the state Department of Health, between 2016 and 2023, emergency room visits for cannabis-related poisoning outside of New York City jumped 190%.
Some are spreading the word about safe cannabis storage.
“If they see something that looks like candy, they’re going to want to try to eat it,” said Collin Seeley, coalition manager with the Oswego County Prevention Coalition.
Stepping into a dispensary, customers can browse the many forms cannabis is offered in, including gummies, vapes and pre-rolls. But there is a way to tell what legal products look like. They are all required to have three symbols printed on the packaging: a yellow triangle with a marijuana leaf in the middle with “THC!” written underneath; a red circle with 21+ in the center; and an outline of New York with “New York State” written on the right side.
Some kids can’t read a warning label, and if cannabis is left unattended, they could eat it, which could be dangerous.
“Cannabinoids in their system relaxes them so much that the breathing rate does not take in the amount of oxygen that they need in order to keep things their organs, like their brain, properly functioning,” said Seeley.
A New York State Department of Health report says three years ago, the counties with the highest rates of cannabis poisoning in New York were Wyoming, Onondaga, Cayuga and Orleans.
Safe storage could keep kids out of a hospital.
“I would say the take-home message is safe storage should become as routine as buckling a car seat or locking up any medication,” said Dr. June Chin, chief medical officer with the state Office of Cannabis Management.
According to the Upstate New York Poison Center, last year it had 569 cannabis-related cases, a 17% decrease from its peak in 2023. Of those calls, 78% were treated in a healthcare facility, or were recommended to be treated there, as opposed to 29% of overall poison calls. Edibles account for more poisonings than any other cannabis product. About half of incidents when kids age 0-5 accidentally ingested cannabis-involved edibles.
The Oswego County Prevention Coalition has given away 3,000 free lock bags to protect kids and pets. The group also shares them with dispensaries, like Leafy Wonders, which has handed out 250 free bags so far.
“Always a good idea to have one of these. Lock it up, keep it safe. Four-legged friends don’t have opposable thumbs, so that’s a plus for the zippers,” said Ashley Powell, general manager for Leafy Wonders.
Symptoms of cannabis poisoning for children can include difficulty walking, waking up or breathing. If needed, the phone number for the Upstate New York Poison Control Center is 1-800-222-1222.
The Oswego County Prevention Coalition’s grant to give away the lock bags ends in June 2027.