Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, January 3, 2023) – The number of young children unknowingly eating cannabis edibles has jumped 14-fold in recent years.  That’s the finding of a new report out today in  the Journal Pediatrics.

According to the report, the number of children younger than 6 who accidentally ate edible cannabis products rose to over 3,000 in 2021.  That’s up from just under 310 in 2017.  Overall youth unwittingly eating the products during the same time period was over 7,000.

Health experts say there are several factors driving up the numbers.  Edible cannabis products often come in child appealing forms resembling popular candy.  Additionally, officials say the edibles are increasingly available as more states legalize recreational marijuana.

Officials are sounding the alarm about the increase.  While there have been no fatal cases, health experts say in most cases edible cannabis can cause nervous system depression in children.  That condition can manifest as drowsiness, sleepiness, lethargy, and in a few cases seizure activity.