If a child eats a cannabis edible, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away, and call 911 if the child is hard to wake, having trouble breathing or having a seizure. Do not try to make the child vomit or wait to see what happens: THC from edibles can take an hour or more to peak, and young children can become seriously ill.
What to Do Right Now
- Call 911 if the child is unresponsive, very hard to wake, breathing slowly or with difficulty, or having a seizure.
- Otherwise call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. It is free, confidential and staffed around the clock by specialists who will tell you whether the child can be watched at home or needs the emergency room. Poison centers exist to help, not to report families.
- Keep the package. The label tells doctors the milligrams of THC per piece. Estimate how much is missing.
- Do not induce vomiting and do not give the child anything to “sober up.” There is no home remedy.
- Stay with the child. Keep them on their side if they are drowsy, and do not leave them alone in a bath or near water.
Symptoms of Edible Poisoning in Children
Children are much smaller than adults and have no tolerance, so a single gummy or cookie can be a large dose. The CDC warns that children who eat THC products can become very sick, with trouble walking or sitting up and difficulty breathing. A large review of poison center cases in Pediatrics found the most common effects were:
- Sleepiness or depressed consciousness, sometimes deep
- Poor coordination and unsteady walking
- Confusion or agitation
- A fast heart rate
- Dilated pupils
Symptoms can start within 30 minutes but may not appear for two hours or more, and they can last many hours. A child who seems fine right after eating an edible can still get sick later, which is why you should call even before symptoms appear.
How Common Are These Cases?
The Pediatrics study, published in 2023, used National Poison Data System records for children under 6. Reported edible exposures rose from 207 in 2017 to 3,054 in 2021, an increase of about 1,375 percent, with 7,043 cases over five years. Most happened in the child’s own home, and more than half involved 2- and 3-year-olds. About 23 percent of the children were admitted to a hospital and 8 percent, 573 children, needed critical care. No deaths were reported. The authors linked the rise to wider legal access to edibles.
Update (October 2026): Newer data show the rise has continued. A study published June 26, 2026 in the Journal of Addiction Medicine found reported cannabis exposures in children under 6 grew from 132 in 2009 to 8,430 in 2024, and exposures in children ages 6 to 12 grew from 21 to 2,894. America’s Poison Centers’ edible cannabis tracker counts 39,497 cannabis edible exposure cases in people 19 and younger from 2019 through April 30, 2025. With Halloween coming, see our guide to THC edibles that look like Halloween candy.
What Happens at the Hospital
There is no antidote for THC. Emergency care is supportive: doctors monitor breathing, heart rate and oxygen, give IV fluids if needed, and watch the child until the drug wears off. A severely affected child may need help with breathing in intensive care. Doctors may also run tests to rule out other causes of drowsiness, especially if no one is sure what the child ate. Being honest with staff about the product leads to faster, better care.
How to Prevent It
- Lock it up. Store all cannabis in a locked box or cabinet, out of sight, not just out of reach. The CDC recommends a locked, childproof container.
- Keep the original packaging. Licensed products in Washington and Oregon come in child-resistant packaging with THC warning labels. Close it fully every time.
- Separate it from food. Never keep edibles in the pantry, fridge door or candy dish. Homemade cannabutter should be clearly labeled and stored where kids cannot get it.
- Watch for copycat packaging. The FDA has warned about THC products sold in packages that imitate popular snacks and candy. Children cannot tell the difference.
- Tell guests and sitters. Ask visitors to keep their own cannabis secured, and make sure babysitters know where products are and that they are off limits.
- Save the number. Put 1-800-222-1222 in your phone now.
For adults, our cannabis dosage guide explains why edibles hit harder and later than smoking.
Never Give Cannabis to a Child Without Their Knowledge
This post began in 2011 as a news item about a Pennsylvania babysitter who fed cannabis-infused butter on toast to children in her care, telling them it was parsley butter. She later admitted it to police. Giving any drug to a child, or to anyone, without their knowledge is a crime and can cause real harm. The only medical cannabis use for children is under a doctor’s direction, such as the FDA-approved CBD medicine Epidiolex for certain seizure disorders.
Child Ate an Edible FAQ
What should I do if my child ate a weed gummy?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 immediately, or 911 if the child is hard to wake, struggling to breathe or seizing. Keep the package to show the THC dose.
How long does an edible last in a child?
Effects can begin anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours or more after eating and may last many hours, sometimes into the next day after a large dose. Medical staff will decide how long to observe.
Can a child die from eating an edible?
Deaths are extremely rare, and none were reported in the five-year Pediatrics study, but children can need intensive care for breathing problems or deep sedation. Treat every case as urgent.
Will calling poison control get me in trouble?
Poison centers provide medical advice and are confidential. Their job is to keep the child safe, so give them accurate information.
Should I take my child to the ER after eating an edible?
Call Poison Help first unless symptoms are severe. Specialists will tell you whether home observation is safe or the child needs the emergency room.
For adults 21+ in legal states. General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before using cannabis for a health condition.