Dope ropes, THC Doritos reflect our patchwork pot laws and kids can pay the price, experts say

As cannabis becomes legalized in states across the country, access to minors has become increasingly common − especially when it comes to edible forms that can be confusing to teens and children.

Though most consumers of marijuana products are adults aged 18-25, according to the Journal of Cannabis Research, the number of children under the age of 6 who have ingested cannabis products increased 1,375% from 2017 to 2021, USA TODAY previously reported.

Some critics argue much of the blame lies with the packaging.

Here's what parents need to know about cannabis and how it impacts children.

Hospitals see more kids coming in for cannabis exposure

Thousands of young children were rushed to emergency rooms between 2017 and 2021 for exposures to edible cannabis products, according to research released last year.

According to the data:

• 573 kids were admitted to critical care units
• 1,027 kids were admitted to non-critical care units
• 2,550 kids were seen in emergency rooms
• 625 cases refused care/did not go to hospital
• 2,268 outcome unknown/no follow-up

Dr. Natalie Laub, a pediatrician and cannabis researcher at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego told the San Diego Union-Tribune that its emergency room has seen an uptick in "children coming in with seizures and not breathing."

Washington Medicine pediatrician, Dr. Beth Ebel told a Portland news station that her experience has been the same.

“We are seeing this all day long. My emergency department friends see kids coming in and they are trying to decide, does this child have bleeding in her brain or a brain tumor? Or is this a child who really has a low level of consciousness because they have ingested something?”

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Edibles flavors, packing pose a problem

The FTC and pediatricians warn the increase in cannabis exposure to kids could have a lot to do with how the products are packaged.

Since marijuana is still illegal federally, it's hard to regulate packaging, as laws differ state by state.

But it's not just packaging, it's the products themselves that are problematic, Katherine Keyes, a professor at Columbia University, told reporters.

"I think jurisdictions should consider curtailing the availability of candy and fruit flavors, and overall, you know, we should be doing the kind of public health research that we need to do to understand what types of products are most appealing to youth."

A Cincinnati couple made the news recently after their daughter was given a piece of gum with THC in it on her school bus. The girl suffered a seizure and was rushed to the hospital.

Whether it's chocolate, gummy bears, or a bag of THC-infused chips, many kids can't tell the difference. And since kids might not recognize how much THC is present in an edible, they also "would not recognize the need to stop," said Dr. Marit Tweet, an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist with the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine,

This past summer, the Federal Trade Commission along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent cease and desists letters to these six companies with products that resemble Doritos, Cheetos, gummy bears, and other favorite candies with nearly identical packaging to the original brands:

• Delta Munchies LLC (Los Angeles, California)
• Exclusive Hemp Farms(Gilroy, California) and Etienne-DuBois LLC/Oshipt (Henrico, Virginia)
• North Carolina Hemp Exchange, LLC, dba NC Hemp Shoppe (Raleigh, North Carolina)
• Dr. Smoke, LLC, aka Dr. S, LLC (Kansas City, Missouri)
• Nikte's Wholesale, LLC (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
• The Haunted Vapor Room(Franklin, New Jersey)

Still, all that the FTC can do is "strongly encourage sellers to review all of their marketing and product packaging," the FTC said in a press release.

Parents should be aware that the amount of THC present in a product will depend on the state. Some have begun to put restrictions on how much THC can be present if the packaging is appealing to youth.

You can read up on packaging restrictions across the country here.

USA TODAY has reached out to some of these companies for comment but has not received a response.

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Signs and symptoms that a child has ingested cannabis

Here's what to look for if you suspect a child got a hold of or was given cannabis products, according to Poision Control:

• vomiting
• dizziness
• difficulty walking
• rapid heart rate
• drowsiness
• confusion
• breathing problems

In severe cases:

• Hallucinations
• abnormally slow heart rate
• low blood pressure

If you believe this has occurred, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for instructions, or 911, and take them to your closet urgent care.

How to safely store cannabis products in your home

There are many parents nationwide who consume cannabis products responsibly yet have safety concerns for their home. Ali Sawani, a pediatric resident at Nationwide Childrens Hospital, shares the following tips for safer storage:

• Store safely or not at all. If you can keep cannabis out of your home all-together, do, but if it must be in your residence, store it "up, away and out of sight" as you would with other medications, Sawani says.
• Use it away from children. Never consume these products in front of kids, Sawani shares, it only normalizes the use of them. The THC present may not harm an adult but could greatly endanger a child, as we have seen.
• Talk to all caregivers. Talk with anyone your child comes in contact with about the safe use and safe storage of cannabis products and to practice sobriety when children are present.

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