Why can’t parents keep marijuana away from young children?

It was once considered propaganda: the idea that the kids of cannabis users somehow got their hands on the herb, ingested it, only to be strapped to various machines and devices later in their local hospital until the high wore off.

Some marijuana advocates are still convinced that this was just another way for The Man to disrupt the legalization process in the United States so that police officers can continue to destroy the skulls of stoners. In reality, however, thousands of children find their parents’ pot supply every year, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. It’s a problem that has worsened as more states have legalized recreational use. So what is there? Why can’t parents keep grass away from kids?

Photo by August de Richelieu via Pexels

Cannabis industry officials no longer deny that edibles have poisoned children. But they put most of the blame on the actions of irresponsible parents. “I think a lot of parents are falling back on the learning curve when it comes to responsibly storing cannabis products, as they would with alcohol and medication, household cleaners and the like,” said Morgan Fox, media director for the National Cannabis Industry Association. said KATC-3.

Whatever the reason, the cannabis industry continues to market edible cannabis as if its customer base is 12 or less. Enter almost any pharmacy in a legal cannabis state and you will see a cannabis version of a variety of popular candies. There are Zombie Skittles (packaged to mimic the famous Skittles brand) and Cannaburst Gummies (designed in the picture by Starburst). We even saw Ganja Joy, Stoned Patch, Medicated Nerds, the list goes on.

RELATED: How to Stop Your Kids From Getting Into Your Marijuana Stash

The packaging of these products is so similar to the existing THC-free brands that many candy manufacturers, including Mars Inc., have Lawsuits filed for copyright infringement. They want the cannabis companies to get their own identity and stop ripping them off. Even so, marijuana edibles intended to be sold only to adults 21 and older will continue to be distributed in child-friendly containers. Meanwhile, the industry continues to preach responsible behavior.

CBD edibles don't do everything they claim to bePhoto by SageElyse / Getty Images

The results were not good. The number of poison calls made by children who use cannabis rose from 132 in 2016 to almost 2,500 last year. If it’s too early in the morning to do the math, that’s an increase of about 1600 percent. Of the many calls, Julie Weber of the American Association of Poison Control Centers says 88% need to be referred to emergency rooms. In most cases, this is to ensure that the child does not experience serious side effects.

RELATED: How Can Parents Know If Their Teenagers Are Using Marijuana?

“We had to refer her to the emergency room because of the risk of a seizure.” she said of a specific call to a poison control center where the child ate 12 medical gums.

Even parents who use cannabis admit that the problem with edibles is real. Earlier this year, Elizabeth Perry of Washington DC, where marijuana is legal, noticed something was wrong with her 21-month-old son. they said CBS News said that when she put him in his crib, “he got kind of stiff and started shaking and crying.” Later in the hospital, Perry learned that Oliver tested positive for THC. The child had gotten into her stash of edible gummy bears and had consumed enough to make him seriously ill. “My first thought was I did this to him, this is my fault,” she told the news source.

CBD edibles don't do everything they claim to bePhoto by IRA_EVVA / Getty Images

Part of the solution seems to depend on marijuana legalization at the federal level. Allowing marijuana as part of national trade is likely to lead to stricter regulations like alcohol and tobacco, and the industry is unlikely to be able to pack products in containers that appeal to young children. The majority leader in the Senate, Schumer, is pushing for a pot proposal in the House of Lords at this meeting, which, however, does not meet with much approval. And it’s not immediately clear how much regulatory scrutiny Uncle Sam would impose.

Until there are more rules on child-resistant packaging, health care officials say the best weed-loving parents can do to keep more children safe from THC exposure is to properly secure and take closer care of all pot products. You have to take most of the responsibility in bringing edibles into the house.

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