Health Canada’s public advisory describes illegal “copycat” edibles that imitate popular brands so closely that parents and children may not recognize them, and links them to more hospitalizations, emergency visits and poison-centre calls (Health Canada).
Canadian studies report rising child poisonings. One counted 581 hospitalizations of children for cannabis poisoning in four provinces, with a larger rise where edible sales were allowed (Myran et al., 2023). Another attributed 88% of edible-related events in children aged 0 to 11 to inadvertent ingestion through access or a lack of safe storage (Varin et al., 2023). In the US, mushroom gummies with unlabeled psilocybin or psilocin made five people ill, including a 3-year-old (Michienzi et al., 2024).
Health Canada says to call 911 if a child loses consciousness or has trouble breathing (Health Canada). Poison centres across most of Canada answer at 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) (CAPCCT). This is a description, not medical advice.
General information, not medical advice. In an emergency in Canada, call 911. For a mental-health crisis, call or text 9-8-8.
Sources
- Health Canada: Copycat edible cannabis products advisory
- Health Canada: Cannabis poisonings in children
- Myran et al. (2023), Pediatric hospitalizations for unintentional cannabis poisonings
- Michienzi et al. (2024), MMWR: Schedule I substances in nootropic gummies
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