Some may look like candy, but cannabis products pose a safety hazard to young children. Here’s what parents need to know to keep kids safe.
The Tennessee Poison Center has seen an increase in calls from parents whose children have eaten their delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol products. These are also known as delta-8 THC. Some children have had to go to the emergency room, or even had to stay in the hospital. Doctors want parents to know that they should keep all cannabis products stored out of kids’ reach.
“These are dangerous for children,” said Dr. Rebecca Bruccoleri, medical director of the Tennessee Poison Control Center and an assistant professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at Vanderbilt. “Parents need to keep them up and locked away. They need to treat these with a lot of care and realize that children are going to be attracted to them because they look like candy.”
What is delta-8 THC?
Delta-8 THC is a cannabinoid, an active compound found in the cannabis plant. The cannabis plant is also called hemp or marijuana, depending on its composition of cannabinoids. The two cannabinoids people are most familiar with are cannabidiol, also called CBD, and delta-9 THC. Delta-9 THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes a “high.”
Delta-8 THC is a chemical analog to delta-9 THC. That means it is chemically similar to delta-9 THC. However, delta-8 THC is produced after manufacturers synthesize it from CBD. They do that because it’s only present in small amounts in hemp. Delta-8 may have potentially harmful contaminants from the chemicals used in the manufacturing process.
The bottom line is that all cannabis products — whether CBD, delta-9 THC or delta-8 THC — should be kept away from kids.
The increase in poison center calls regarding delta-8
From 2021 to 2022, The Tennessee Poison Center received 115 calls regarding delta-8 THC, with 32 of those affecting children under age 6. Then from early 2022 to early 2023, the center received 248 calls, with 110 affecting children under 6. From late 2023 to early 2024, the numbers have remained high: 180 total calls, with 76 affecting children under 6.
Most calls regarding children have involved edible products that look like candy, such as gummies. “Children have been pretty ill from them, requiring ICU [intensive care unit] admissions,” Bruccoleri said.
As of early 2023, one pediatric death attributed to delta-8 was reported to the Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Event Reporting System.
Bruccoleri explained two major concerns. “One is that kids can be so sleepy that we are worried they cannot adequately breathe, or that they’ll stop breathing,” she said. “The other is that they will have really low blood pressure and will need support from the ICU.”
Symptoms of delta-8 THC toxicity in kids and what to do
If your child is exhibiting serious symptoms of toxicity (such as lethargy, trouble breathing, blueish skin or seizures), or your child is unresponsive, call 911 right away, Bruccoleri said.
If you know your child has accidentally ingested delta-8 THC but they aren’t exhibiting symptoms, contact the Tennessee Poison Center immediately by calling the 24/7 toll-free hotline at 800-222-1222 for guidance.
Talking to your children about delta-8 THC
Having a conversation about cannabis in general with your kids could help keep them safe.
With young kids, your conversation can be about how not all items, even ones that look tasty, are safe to consume. “One thing we teach in the poison center world to children under 5 is that they should always ask their parents before they eat something,” Bruccoleri said.
Talking to preteens and teens is important too. “If a teenager comes across one of these products, they also need to know to keep it away from small children,” Bruccoleri explained, noting that delta-8 THC products are illegal to purchase for those under 21 years of age in the state of Tennessee. “And I’m not saying that teenagers should be using this stuff.”
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The Tennessee Poison Center, a program of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is the state’s only emergency poison information resource center. The center provides free and confidential poison information and treatment recommendations to the public and health care professionals. Call the 24/7 toll-free hotline at 1-800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist now.
