DETROIT – An ongoing problem on some local school campuses is raising new concerns: children ingesting marijuana edibles.
It played out again this week at Thomas Edison Elementary School in Detroit, where six students were hospitalized Tuesday after eating edibles. A spokesperson for the school district told us all six students are OK as of Wednesday.
But parents, health officials and members of the cannabis industry say the situation is part of a broader trend — and local doctors warn it’s happening more often than many families realize.
Wednesday also brought a report of a possible edible ingestion at Fisher Magnet. Sources said a student was evaluated, but did not need to be transported to a hospital.
The Edison Elementary situation was more serious, with multiple children taken in for treatment.
Dr. Curt Stankovic, Division Chief of Emergency Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, said pediatric exposure to marijuana edibles is common in emergency rooms.
“It’s actually extremely common. We see it just about every single day,” Stankovic said.
He said symptoms can range widely depending on the amount consumed.
“On one end of the spectrum is just a sedated patient. But on the other is something similar to a comatose type of patient — and if the patient has a massive ingestion, they can even have cardiac arrhythmias,” he said.
Data from the Michigan Poison and Drug Information Center indicates cannabis-related exposure calls involving children under age 12 have increased since recreational marijuana was legalized.
According to the data cited, children under 12 accounted for:
- 13% of cannabis-related exposure calls in 2018
- 41% in 2023
Al Williams, President of the Detroit Cannabis Industry Association, called the Edison Elementary incident a “wake-up call” and said no family should have to deal with it.
“No child should ever have to deal with this. No family should ever have to deal with this,” Williams said.
He said the group is urging the city and state to:
- strengthen regulation and enforcement
- crack down on illegal cannabis operators
- launch a public education campaign about risks and safe storage
- 13:49:49
”My concern really is about safe consumption for adults, and making sure that we regulate our industry,” Williams said. “Those who are not regulated, of course, we get rid of them. So, that this won’t happen to any other child moving forward.”
Doctors and cannabis industry leaders agree that safe storage is one of the most important steps to keep children from accessing edibles.
Detroit school leaders are also urging families to secure cannabis products and talk with children about the dangers. The superintendent has said marijuana edibles have become a significant problem across the district since legalization and is calling for stronger restrictions and education efforts to reduce exposures and prevent repeat incidents.