Six-Year-Old Hospitalized After Mistakenly Eating THC Candy

Photo by@Crownstown Cannabis/dailymail.co

• A six-year-old boy in North Carolina was hospitalized after consuming a cannabis edible mistaken for Skittles.
• The child ingested 40 pieces of the THC-laced candy, which is 13 times a normal adult dose.
• Catherine Buttereit, the boy's mother, calls for better labeling and awareness to prevent similar incidents.

In a distressing incident in North Carolina, a six-year-old boy suffered severe symptoms after accidentally consuming a cannabis edible.

The child's mother, Catherine Buttereit, 45, had purchased what she believed were freeze-dried Skittles from a restaurant in Charlotte. However, the candy was laced with Delta 9, a legal form of THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.

Unaware of the candy's true nature, Buttereit allowed her son to eat the treats. The boy consumed 40 pieces, a quantity 13 times greater than a typical adult dose. He began to experience unusual symptoms, including a wobbly mind, pain in the pelvic area, a cold chest, and a headache. His mother described his condition as "excruciating pain" before he fell into a deep sleep lasting 17 hours.

The incident has raised concerns over the packaging and sale of cannabis edibles. The packaging did have a small 21+ marking, but North Carolina stores are not mandated to enforce age restrictions for such products. The incident at the Common Market restaurant has led to improved signage around these products.

This case adds to a growing number of incidents involving minors and cannabis edibles. The National Poison Data System (NPDS) notes a significant rise in such cases, with pediatricians warning of the new household safety hazard. Experts stress the importance of keeping cannabis products out of children's reach and call for responsible marketing to reduce the risk of accidental consumption.

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