Parents Beware: Those Gummy Bears In Your Child’s Halloween Bag Could Be Edible Marijuana

TAMPA, FL - Parents be warned: Check your child’s goodie bag this Halloween because some makers of edible marijuana are still producing candy lookalikes.

Dr. Alfred Aleguas of the Florida Poison Information Center-Tampa advised parents to keep a close watch as their kids empty their bags and begin eating their candy. Also, he said kids should never accept homemade treats from strangers and parents should look for packages that are open.

“You just never know nowadays,” he said.

Some marijuana edibles are made to look like commercial products, such as gummy bears or candy bars, the doctor said.

Aleguas cited an example of adults who recently were taken to a West Central Florida emergency room after inadvertently eating edible marijuana at a party. He said the adults began eating what they believed to be gummy bears and went to the ER for treatment after feeling the effects of the drug.

The doctor said now that marijuana is legal for recreational or medical use in 29 states and the District of Columbia, edible marijuana could be available in Florida by someone bringing it from other states. Marijuana is legal for medical use in Florida, but not recreational use.

Eleven teenagers were hospitalized after eating marijuana gummy bears in Indiana last summer. Also, a 10-year-old New York boy got sick earlier this year from eating a sour gummy candy containing cannabis oil he found in his father's vehicle, TODAY reported last month.

Another danger for small children on Halloween: glow sticks. The doctor says it is common for small children to bite into glow sticks or put them too close to their skin causing irritation. He said the glow sticks can also be an irritant to the mouth and nose.

The Poison Control Center offers these safety tips for Halloween:

Candy and Treats:

- Inspect all candy for any signs of tampering (tears, pinholes, discoloration, rewrapping) before eating or allowing children to eat. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out.
- Check all candy and toys to avoid choking hazards.
- Children should avoid eating homemade treats obtained from strangers.
- Take snacks from your home when “trick or treating” so that your children have safe snacks to eat if they get hungry.

Cosmetics For Costumes:

- Only use products that are intended for use on the skin.

- Test face makeup on a small area of skin first to check for an allergic reaction before applying it to the face.
- Avoid the eye area when applying costume makeup to the face.
- Throw out any makeup that has a bad smell; this could be a sign of contamination.
- Remove makeup before bedtime to prevent eye and/or skin irritation.

Other Halloween Hazards:
- Remind children not to chew on or break open glow sticks or other glow-in-the-dark products.
- While the liquid is considered minimally toxic in small amounts, it can cause skin irritation.
- Swallowing glow stick liquid can cause nausea and burning.
- Eyes are especially sensitive to glow stick liquid.
- Never put these products in the microwave.
- Handle dry ice properly and carefully.
- Oral/skin exposure or ingestion of dry ice can cause significant damage.
- Do not store dry ice in the freezer or an unventilated area.

The Poison Center is located at Tampa General Hospital and serves 16 counties in West Central Florida, including Tampa Bay.

The center is available 24 hours a day to provide free, confidential information and treatment advice. Specially trained health professionals are available for questions, or to assess someone who has been exposed to a potentially harmful substance, by calling the Poison Help line immediately at 800.222.1222.

Photo via U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency