Two Jerusalem children hospitalized after eating THC-infused cannabis candies

Two brothers aged three and five were taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem after eating cannabis candies containing THC and CBD. They arrived with dizziness, confusion, blurred vision and difficulty walking steadily.

Doctors determined that both children had suffered severe poisoning. Dr. Mohammed Hamed said the family reported that each child had eaten two candies, with each package label listing 20 milligrams of THC and 10 milligrams of CBD per candy.

Dr. Amir Fischer said the exposure was particularly serious for the younger brother because he weighed less. He said poisoning from such substances can affect the central nervous system and heart rate, while rarer complications can include seizures, respiratory failure, respiratory depression and coma.

“There is no antidote in cases of this kind that reduces the effect of the toxic substance, so treatment is mainly supportive when no additional intervention is required. Fortunately, the children reached us at an early stage and without severe symptoms. If they had eaten additional candies, their lives could have been in danger,” Fischer said.

The brothers spent about 24 hours in the pediatric intensive care unit for observation and were discharged in good condition after their symptoms did not worsen. Talia Chernosvitov, the emergency department’s deputy head nurse, said such exposure to a dose of psychoactive substances was relatively rare. She urged parents to supervise children and keep potentially toxic products out of reach.

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There is no antidote in cases of this kind that reduces the effect of the toxic substance, so treatment is mainly supportive when no additional intervention is required. Fortunately, the children reached us at an early stage and without severe symptoms. If they had eaten additional candies, their lives could have been in danger.