More little kids in Ohio are getting into marijuana edibles. Here's how to keep them safe.

The number of young Ohio kids being exposed to edibles is rising and will likely continue to, according to the Central Ohio Poison Center.

More than 200 children under age six were exposed to edibles from January 2024 through July 2024, according to the poison center, and Ohio is on track for a 49% increase in exposures to edibles among this age group compared to 2023.

But that percentage could climb higher, according to the poison center, as that data was calculated prior to the launch of legal adult use sales in the state on Aug. 6, but after marijuana possession was legalized in December 2023.

Ohio isn't alone. On average, states with some form of legal marijuana have a 27% to 30% per-year increase in pediatric exposures to marijuana edibles under the age of six, according to Dr. Hannah Hays, chief medical officer of Central Ohio Poison Center and chief of toxicology at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Exposure to edibles and other forms of cannabis are rising in children of older age groups, too, the poison center noted, something that's sparking concern in health experts nationwide as more and more states consider legalizing medical and recreational marijuana for adults.

More: Legal recreational marijuana in Ohio raises concerns among addiction experts

Division of Cannabis Control emphasizes the safety of regulated vs. unregulated

Increased access to any product means increased exposures, especially in smaller children, Hays said, but cannabis edibles can be a "particularly problematic situation" for kids for several reasons, including their appealing taste, their high levels of the psychedelic component tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and the delayed onset of symptoms of too much of that THC.

A spokesperson for the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) said that "safety is at the heart of the work of the Division and there are numerous policies in place to ensure the safety and well-being of not only patients and consumers, but also Ohio youth."

All regulated marijuana products are required to be sold in "child-resistant packaging" and cannot be advertised to be appealing to children. For example, products can't use the image of a cartoon character on the label or be shaped to resemble popular candy.

However, DCC r eleased an alert to consumers last month about Delta-8 THC, often nicknamed "diet weed." It's a federally legal product derived from hemp that can provide a high to the user, but it's almost entirely unregulated in Ohio and nationally and can often be found in gas stations with no age restrictions on purchasing.

More: Ohio tells parents to watch out for delta-8 THC products that mimic Oreos, other brands

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has been emphasizing the danger such products could pose to children for months, due to their lack of testing requirements partnered with packaging that can look like familiar brands such as Oreo or Chips Ahoy! cookies or candy like Nerd ropes or Sour Patch Kids gummies — something he's said parents should be on the lookout for just as much as marijuana products.

How to protect kids and recognize the signs of toxicity

Parents who want to keep marijuana products in the home should follow the same rule of thumb for other medications like painkillers or antidepressants by keeping it up high and out of reach and sight of children, Hays said, in locked containers preferably.

Parents also shouldn't store edibles in a purse or another place where candy or snacks might be stored, and don't store edibles with food. Adults also shouldn't refer to edibles as "treats" or candy and parents shouldn't consume the edibles in front of children, or they may think of them as food.

The most common symptoms of marijuana toxicity are drowsiness and fast heart rates, but in a small number of children, there are severe symptoms like seizures, coma and respiratory failure, Hays said.

"That is a small percentage of the overall cases that have been reported. However, when you see, like in Ohio, we have for just edibles alone almost one child per day, those 1% to 2% things we end up seeing with some frequency," Hays said.

Samantha Hendrickson is The Columbus Dispatch's medical business and health care reporter. She can be reached at shendrickson@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: More little kids in Ohio are getting into marijuana edibles. Here's how to keep them safe.