Just days
before Halloween, parents are being warned to keep their eyes out for another
form of deceptive packaging that poses a risk to children.
Products
deceptively packaged to look just like standard snack foods and candy actually
contain high levels of cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), warns New York
Attorney General Letitia James.
The
products, which are illegal and unregulated in New York state, can be extremely
dangerous to human health, the Office of the Attorney General warns, urging
parents statewide to remain alert against the online sale of the misleading
products.
"In
light of an increase in accidental overdoses among children nationwide, it is
more vital than ever that we do everything we can to curb this crisis and
prevent any further harm, or even worse, death," James says.
Containing
high concentrations of THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis, the
products pose a high risk to children that, if consumed, can lead to accidental
overdose, the office warns.
According
to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the most common overdose incidents
among children involve ingestion of edible cannabis foods, and these incidents
are on the rise.
In 2020,
more than 70 percent of calls related to marijuana edibles to the Poison
Control Center involved children under the age of 5, according to the Office of
the Attorney General. In the first half of 2021, the American Association of
Poison Control Centers has reported that poison control hotlines have received
an estimated 2,622 calls for services related to young children ingesting
illegal cannabis products.
Although
New York state legalized adult-use cannabis earlier this year, products such as
these that are for non-medical use are not yet being sold in the state legally.
In other
states where non-medical cannabis products are permitted for sale, a single
adult serving size of an edible cannabis product contains 5 milligrams of THC,
but a standard bag of lookalike Cheetos brand product contains 600 milligrams of
THC, her office warns. A child consuming these products would be consuming 120
times the maximum legal adult serving in those states.
Systems of
THC overdose include respiratory distress, loss of coordination, lethargy, and
loss of consciousness. New Yorkers who suspect that their child has become sick
from consuming food containing high amounts of THC are encouraged to call the
New York Regional Poison Control Centers at 1-800-222-1222.
New Yorkers
who are aware of or have encountered these type of products are encouraged to
contact the OAG by submitting a complaint form online or by calling (800)
771-7755.