Police warn after 5-year-old Massachusetts child sickened after eating marijuana gummy mistaking it for candy

Police in Massachusetts are warning the public after a child digested drugs believing it was something else.

According to police, Norwood PD responded to a call involving a five-year-old child who ingested a marijuana gummy after mistaking it for candy. Thankfully, the child received medical care, but this situation could have been much worse.

Chief Christopher Padden noted that it happens more often than many people realize, and it can be a serious medical emergency.

National data shows a sharp rise in accidental edible exposures among young children:

• 7,043 edible cannabis exposures reported among children under 6 between 2017–2021

• Annual cases increased from 207 in 2017 to 3,054 in 2021 — a 1,375% increase

• 22.7% of cases required hospital admission

• About 70% of children experienced central nervous system depression (extreme sleepiness, lethargy, slowed responses)

• ICU admissions increased during the pandemic years

Marijuana products — especially gummies — often look identical to candy. For a young child, there is no difference.

Padden asks that if you use marijuana, please treat it like any other medication in your home:

Keep it locked and out of reach

Store it in its original, child-resistant packaging

Do not leave it in bags, backpacks, nightstands, or kitchen areas

Never refer to it as “candy”

A small amount can significantly affect a child.

If you believe a child has ingested marijuana, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 immediately or call 911 if the child is having difficulty breathing, is hard to wake, or is unresponsive.