Murder by Delta-8 Gummies? Did a delta-8 THC overdose kill a 4-year-old boy, it’s complicated.

A mother in Virginia has been charged with murder after her son died after consuming THC edibles, delta-8-THC to be exact, police say. Two days after a grand jury indicted Dorothy Annette Clements, 30, of Spotsylvania in the death of her son in May, she was taken into custody on Wednesday.

On May 6, while the family was visiting a property in Fredericksburg, Virginia — about 11 miles from Spotsylvania — Clements’ child was found to be unresponsive. According to authorities, Clements did not bring her son’s help fast enough. Detectives believe the child consumed a “significant amount” of the gummies, and police say the boy died two days after said incident.

According to NBC Washington, an autopsy found that THC, the component in marijuana responsible for the psychoactive effects, was the cause of death. According to authorities, a doctor reportedly told officers that the boy would have survived if he had received medical care sooner. After the boy consumed half of a CBD gummie, Clements informed police that she had called the poison control center and that the agents had reassured her that the boy would be fine.

However, according to NBC Washington, a police officer reported discovering an empty gummy THC bottle in the home where Clements was found, and authorities claim that Clements’ claims do not match the evidence found. Clements could serve up to 40 years in prison for the murder charge. Online records show their indictment is scheduled for November 1. According to Poison Control, children who eat cannabis treats “can experience serious and occasionally life-threatening adverse effects,” and they advise parents to keep cannabis products out of the reach of children.

But this is where the plot twist comes into play that is sending the cannabis industry into turmoil. They weren’t natural THC gummies, they were delta-8 THC gummies. Delta-8 THC is made in a lab from hemp or the cannabis plant, it requires solvents and plant rot, and while it’s legal under the Farm Act of 2018, there’s not much research on the health effects of Delta-8 THC.

As Brett Puffenbarger of Green Check Verified summarized it on LinkedIn:

“Mum charged with murder after son dies of THC overdose” is probably the most blatant Reefer Madness headline I’ve seen in years…

Really, the whole story is.

It’s misleading and full of errors.

First of all…

The boy wasn’t taking THC, he was taking Delta-8.

Delta-8 is NOT THC. It is a separate and standalone product.

THC is naturally produced. D8 occurs naturally.

Big difference…

THC is produced by the plant as it grows. It’s part of the natural chemical makeup of #cannabis plants and has been shown to be safe and effective in every way (with two exceptions, a VERY small group already suffering from mental health issues and suffering from psychosis, and the always controversial cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, neither of which is the case here)

D8 is made when the plant begins to decay. It’s a dynamic state.

Commercially produced D8 is essentially acid-washed CBD that is stopped at just the right moment of decay.

D8 is also subject to MUCH less regulatory scrutiny. That said… most D8s are not tested to the same level of safety as your average D9 product sold in the regulated #cannabisindustry.

What else could have been in those gummies?

Only an autopsy report will tell us, but whatever…

This is the EXACT black eye for the industry that I and many others have warned about when it comes to these synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids.

After this point the story gets a bit strange.

The mother called the poison control center and lied…

This poor innocent child suffered for 2 days before dying (unusual in overdose deaths of any kind)…

At the end of the day…I probably agree that this mother should be charged with neglect and possibly manslaughter or murder, whatever the true cause of death was.

What happened to this child could and should have been prevented.

My problem here is simply the misleading headlines blaming THC, and with it all the hard-working people and companies that aren’t peddling weed’s bathtub gin.

I think my problem is also the continued approval and production of these potentially dangerous compounds sold under the cannabis banner.

THC-O, HHC, D8, D10, D11 etc…

They are not natural. You are not normal. They are not the same as cannabis.

Consumers are buying them to fill the gap created by the ban, not because they really want them.

The manufacturers of these products make their profits clear and conscious over the health and safety of consumers.

This is (almost) as much her fault as her mother’s fault.

Anything I missed?

Anyone else angry but not surprised?

Is there anyone else who has made it their life’s work to correct every single post or comment that mentions THC?

Risks associated with children consuming THC gummies

according to dr Jill McCabe, a pediatric emergency room physician at Inova Loudoun Hospital, all THC can be harmful to children. In addition to hallucinations, low blood pressure, and an abnormally slow heart rate in severe cases, side effects for children who eat THC edibles can include vomiting, difficulty walking, dizziness, increased heart rate, drowsiness, breathing problems, and confusion. Although symptoms may not appear immediately after consumption, the group advises parents and carers to contact the poison control center.

Specialists believe that a key factor that makes THC edibles particularly harmful when left around children is their appearance. Gummy bears’ packaging is often not child-resistant, and given their similar appearance to candy, children are likely to put them in their mouths and eat them once children have access to them, said Dr. Jill McCabe to NBC Washington.

When kids eat them, McCabe advised parents to call 911 immediately and get them to an emergency if they have a seizure, are very lethargic, have trouble walking, have trouble breathing, or have recurrent vomiting. The warnings stem from several recent incidents where children who ate THC-laced foods ended up in hospitals.

Previous cases of children consuming THC edibles

Three young children in Virginia contracted an illness in April 2022 after eating “goldfish crackers” containing THC. After turning herself in to police and having her daycare license confiscated, the 60-year-old professional daycare worker for the children at home has been convicted on three counts of child abuse and harm. While addressing the case, Sgt. Jim Gerhardt of the Colorado Drug Investigators Association reiterated that the caregiver had better know that children can accidentally get into this stuff. Or a nanny accidentally feeds a toddler something from the pantry. This has become a significant problem as these accidental issues increase.”

Another case involving at least two children, ages 5 and 11, was hospitalized in 2020 after consuming the THC-laced candy “Medicated Nerds Rope” from a Utah food bank. The mother of a 5-year-old boy was jailed a year earlier on child endangerment charges after her son brought THC-laced candy to his Cleveland elementary school, resulting in the hospitalization of nine children. Also in 2018, a 12-year-old boy was accused of handing out marijuana-laced gummy bears during gym class to at least five Florida middle school students, who were then taken to the hospital.

Medical professionals claimed that the 2015 death of an 11-month-old boy in Colorado was the first reported pediatric cannabis-related death. However, the infant was officially reported to have died of inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), and other medical professionals questioned whether cannabis was to blame.

Actions to take if a child accidentally ingests THC gummies

According to McCabe, a call to the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 might be enough if the child is showing mild symptoms. However, she noted that any severe symptoms, such as nausea or drowsiness, require immediate attention. McCabe added that seizures, trouble walking, extreme lethargy, or persistent vomiting are all reasons to call 911 right away. Send your child to the nearest emergency room if the child experiences any symptoms or a combination of symptoms.

According to Poison Control, other typical side effects that children may experience include rapid heartbeat, lethargy, disorientation, hallucinations, an abnormally slow heartbeat, and low blood pressure. Recent studies also suggest that children under the age of 10 who consume THC edibles are more likely than older children to require hospitalization and respiratory support.

Poison Control further claims that children who consume THC gummies or other marijuana-infused products often experience a range of common symptoms, such as vomiting, fatigue, difficulty walking, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and breathing problems. It’s recommended to contact the poison control center if a teen has consumed the chemical for more information.

Conclusion

Some states have banned these gummies to limit children’s exposure to THC, while others have attempted to limit them. During this year’s legislative session, Virginia lawmakers struggled to control the sale of goods containing Delta-8 while regulating products containing THC. Despite vehement resistance from the hemp sector, they could not come to an agreement. A state committee has met to discuss ideas for the upcoming session.

The Food and Drug Administration last year issued a warning about products containing delta-8-THC, stating that they “under no circumstances have been evaluated or approved by the FDA for medical use.” The organization reported receiving 104 unfortunate incident reports involving goods containing delta-8 THC between December 2020 and February 2022. 2,362 incidents of exposure to these products were reported to national poison control centers during the same period, including one case in a juvenile who was ruled in death as a result, according to the FDA.

MORE ABOUT DELTA-8 THC, READ MORE…

WHAT IS DELTA-8 THC AND IS IT LEGAL OR NOT? CLICK HERE!