In recent years, the cannabis gummy has become a popular way for adults to consume marijuana. Marketed as a discreet, tasty, and convenient alternative to smoking, these gummies are often used for pain relief, anxiety, inflammation, and sleep issues. While they provide benefits for many adults, experts are increasingly concerned about what happens when children get their hands on them.
Reports of accidental cannabis poisoning among minors have surged dramatically. According to America's Poison Centers, the number of cases rose from 930 in 2009 to more than 22,000 in 2024. Alarmingly, more than 75% of all cannabis-related poisonings last year involved children.
Melissa Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker and senior clinical director at Victory Starts Now in Los Angeles, said she isn't surprised. "Companies are advertising gummy cannabis the same way they would sell candy to children," she noted. Their colorful appearance and sugary taste make them especially tempting for kids who may not realize a cannabis gummy is not ordinary candy.
Dr. Darria Long, an emergency physician in Atlanta, has seen the consequences firsthand. She warns that kids don't just stop at one — they often eat an entire package. That means a small child could unknowingly ingest the equivalent of 10 adult doses in just a few minutes. In some cases, parents have even mistakenly offered a cannabis gummy to their child, unaware it contained THC.
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