Summary: Over 60 school children in Jamaica were hospitalized after consuming sweets infused with cannabis (with 100mg Delta-8 THC in each). The country’s education minister, Fayval Williams, revealed that the affected children were from the St Ann’s Bay area. Some of the students exhibited severe symptoms, including vomiting and hallucinations.
60 Jamaican Children Fall Ill After Consuming High-Dose Cannabis Sweets
The debate surrounding the consumption and regulation of cannabis has taken a concerning turn in Jamaica. Over 60 children from the St Ann’s Bay area, approximately 80 kilometers from the capital city, Kingston, were rushed to the hospital after consuming sweets containing cannabis (with 100mg Delta-8 THC in each). This alarming incident was brought to light by Fayval Williams, Jamaica’s education minister, through a post on social media platform X (Twitter).
“Just returning from St. Ann’s Bay hospital. The doctors & nurses are doing all they can to ensure the students recover. Several were on intravenous (I V) drip. Mommies and daddies are present. One little boy said he only had ONE sweetie. That’s how potent this product is. DANGER!” @williams_fayval X (Twitter)
The affected children, mostly primary school students, exhibited severe symptoms, including vomiting and hallucinations. Fortunately, none of the children are currently in a critical condition, as reported by the BBC. The sweets in question were found to contain a significant 100mg of Delta-8 THC. This dosage is considered high even for adults. Notably, the sweets were produced by a US-based company in California, where cannabis is legal.
Jamaica decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use in 2015. Yet, the country’s Health Minister, Christopher Tufton, clarified that the importation of edibles containing drugs is not permitted.
This incident is not unique to Jamaica. A similar occurrence was reported in South Africa, where around 90 children fell ill after consuming drug-laced muffins from a street vendor.
Why It Matters: The incident underscores the potential dangers of unregulated cannabis products, especially when they are accessible to minors. It also raises questions about the oversight and regulation of cannabis-infused edibles and their distribution.
Potential Implications: This event may prompt Jamaican authorities to tighten regulations surrounding THC-infused products, especially those targeting or accessible to children. It also serves as a cautionary tale for other countries and regions where cannabis products are legal or decriminalized.
And we would like to know how can countries with legalized or decriminalized cannabis ensure the safety and regulation of cannabis-infused products, especially those accessible to minors?
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