If a child has eaten cannabis — a gummy, a brownie, a chocolate, or a leftover joint — treat it as an urgent medical question, not something to sleep off. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 immediately, or 911 if the child is hard to wake, struggling to breathe, or having a seizure. This guide covers what happens next, which symptoms to expect, and how to store legal cannabis so it never happens again.
What should I do first if a kid ate cannabis?
Call Poison Control before you call anyone else — the line is free, confidential, and staffed 24 hours a day, and specialists will tell you whether the exposure can be watched at home or needs an emergency room. Have the product package nearby so they can estimate how many milligrams of THC were involved. Do not try to make a child vomit unless a medical professional instructs you to.
Child Ate a Marijuana Edible? What to Do Right Now
What symptoms should I watch for?
Children are far more sensitive to THC by body weight than adults, so drowsiness, unsteady walking, vomiting, and confusion can begin 30 to 90 minutes after an edible is eaten and last for many hours. Emergency signs include slow or shallow breathing, a seizure, or a child who cannot be roused — those need 911, not a wait-and-see approach.
How do I store cannabis so kids cannot reach it?
Keep every product in its original child-resistant package inside a locked box or cabinet, ideally in a room where children do not play. Never transfer edibles into a candy jar, snack bag, or unlabeled container, and never leave a vape, flower, or edible on a counter or nightstand.
Key Features of This Guide
- Step-by-step first response for accidental edible ingestion
- A clear symptom timeline, from onset to when effects fade
- Warning signs that require emergency care instead of a phone call
- Child-resistant storage and labeling practices for the home
- Guidance on talking with older kids and teens about edibles
- Notes on how product potency and packaging affect risk
- Support for both online orders and in-store shoppers
Product specs worth knowing. Legal edibles are labeled by total THC in milligrams, and a single adult serving is typically a small fraction of the package — which is exactly why one candy can be a large dose for a small body. Effects from eaten cannabis usually start within 30 to 120 minutes and can last six to eight hours or longer, and every legal product we carry leaves our shelves in state-compliant child-resistant packaging with clear potency labeling. Read the label before you open anything at home.
Shipping and returns. Orders placed online are packed discreetly, sealed in child-resistant exit packaging, and delivered with adult signature required, so nothing sits unattended on a porch. If an item arrives damaged, incorrect, or opened in transit, contact our team and we will make it right with a replacement or return in line with local regulations. In-store shoppers get the same packaging standards and the same support after purchase.