Okay

[XCR1250]

Kids as Young as Kindergarteners Will Be Allowed to Use Cannabis at School if Michigan Passes New Law

SANDRA ROSE SALATHE

October 6, 2023 at 12:32 PM

 

The legislation would legally allow students with approved conditions to consume medical marijuana in the form of edibles, beverages, and other low-THC products on school premises

 

Getty Michigan K-12 students may soon be permitted to use medical marijuana and CBD-infused products at school under a new bill presented last week.

Michigan K-12 students may soon be permitted to use medical marijuana and CBD-infused products at school under a new bill presented last week.

Proposed by Democratic representatives in the Michigan House, the legislation would legally allow students to consume edibles, beverages and other low-THC marijuana products on school premises or buses.

The administration of these products would be overseen by a designated school staff member. Only students with clear written authorization detailing the timing and purpose, such as for emergency relief or symptom prevention, could use them.

"What it does is allow medical marijuana pediatric patients to have their medication in the schools the same way anyone else has their medications stored," Michigan State Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr., told CBS News. "The same way, whether it be in a nurse's office or an administration office, they would go up and access their medication the same way anyone else would, and they would go back to class."

Related: Kentucky Legalizes Medical Marijuana in Bipartisan Vote After Decade of Failed Attempts

The new initiative aims to increase accessibility to medical marijuana for eligible students.

In addition, the bill showcases Michigan's evolving stance on drug policies, aligning with both its legal and illegal drug environment. For example, a bill introduced in September aimed to decriminalize psychedelic plants, and there was a recent revision to the drug-testing policy for new hires this month.

State Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) expressed his intent to broaden the dialogue regarding specific substances and their place in society.

 

"Should people go to jail for this? Should we spend money for these crimes? My answer is no," he said at the time. Irwin cited potential medical benefits the substances may offer, like reducing depression.

“Most of those students who have autism or have chronic pain or epilepsy have to take time out of the school day, miss instructional hours and go off campus to take medicine, and then come back,"
Dylan Wegela, one of the bill's sponsors, discussed the new initiative with CBS. "This would simply make their day a lot more cohesive."

Related: Seth Rogen Says Wife Lauren Miller 'Held My Hand' in Creating Cannabis-Inspired Brand Houseplant

HB 5603, now under the purview of the Committee on Regulatory Reform since Sept. 28, 2023, also offers guidelines on the transportation and storage of these products. It emphasizes that they should be managed like any other student medication.

In 2015 a New Jersey teen with epilepsy and autism returned to school full time after winning the fight to have the medical marijuana oil she needs administered to her at school. Inspired by her case, Governor Chris Christie enacted a law allowing parents or primary caregivers to give edible medical marijuana to their ailing or disabled children during school hours. This law also safeguards school districts from potential liabilities.

As of January 2022, 36 states, four U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. Meanwhile, 18 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories have legalized marijuana for recreational use by adults.

In 2008, the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act made Michigan the 13th U.S. state to embrace medical marijuana. A decade later, with the passage of Ballot Proposal 1 in 2018, it became the 10th state to endorse recreational marijuana use. Notably, Michigan stands as the first midwestern state to enact such legislation, which grants adults and eligible patients the right to acquire, possess, and consume marijuana.

 

Six children hospitalized in Florida after eating cannabis gummies at after-school program

MELISSA RUDY

October 6, 2023 at 9:33 PM

 

Six children were hospitalized in Florida after they ate candy containing cannabis at the Lauderhill Boys & Girls Club on Wednesday.

Police officers were dispatched to the location in Broward County three times that afternoon, according to a local report from NBC 6 South Florida.

A total of eight children ranging from 6 to 8 years of age consumed the gummies. Six of the children were transported to Broward Health and Florida Medical Center, according to Lauderhill Fire Rescue officials.

CALLS TO POISON CENTERS FOR ADHD MEDICATION ERRORS HAVE RISEN 300% SINCE 2000, STUDY FINDS

All of the children now have been released and are "returning to their normal activities," said the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County in an official statement provided to Fox News Digital.

It is believed that one of the children brought a package of cannabis-infused gummy candies into the club after school and shared the candies with the other members, the statement said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

 

Edible products are often packaged in ways that are very similar to name-brand candy and snack products for children, a toxicologist warned.

"The safety and protection of the young people we serve is always our absolute highest priority, and we take any situation that might impact their well-being very seriously," the club added.

A spokesperson for the club told Fox News Digital on Friday that the source of the gummies is still under investigation.

Edible products are often packaged in ways that are very similar to name-brand candy and snack products that are familiar to children, according to Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., a medical toxicologist and co-medical director at the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C.

"Children are often not able to differentiate between these snack products and their cannabis lookalike varieties — and this can result in unintentional consumption," she told Fox News Digital.

These products can also contain large amounts of cannabis, with doses intended for adults.

MELATONIN GUMMIES FOUND TO CONTAIN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LEVELS OF THE HORMONE: STUDY

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, pharmacy editor at GoodRx in New York City, said it’s possible for cannabis edibles to be dangerous for children, but it depends on exactly what cannabinoids the edibles contain and how much the children consume.

"In most cases, if a child consumes a cannabis edible by mistake, they’ll just feel extra sleepy or loopy until it wears off," she said.

"Agitation, red eyes and a fast heart rate are also possible," she added.

"More severe side effects, like seizures or breathing issues, are rare but still possible — especially with large amounts of THC."

 

It’s possible for cannabis edibles to be dangerous for children, but it depends on exactly what cannabinoids the edibles contain and how much the children consume, a pharmacist told Fox News Digital.

The risk of a life-threatening issue is higher with illicit or unregulated cannabis edibles, said Woodcock, as these are more likely to contain heavy metals, pesticides or other substances — such as fentanyl — that could be dangerous for children to consume.

Children are more likely than adults to experience severe signs of symptoms, Johnson noted, which is why it’s important to seek medical attention.

 

‘FOURTH WAVE’ OF FENTANYL OVERDOSE DEATHS HAS GRIPPED THE NATION, EXPERTS SAY: ‘THE NORM, NOT THE EXCEPTION’

"The degree of monitoring and treatment needed after cannabis ingestion in children depends on multiple factors, including the dose consumed, the child's age and any underlying medical issues," she went on.

"In some cases, specialized treatments, including intravenous medications and respiratory support, may be required," said Johnson.

 

Regardless of whether the child has symptoms, experts say it’s important to reach out to a medical professional.

The signs and symptoms of cannabis poisoning in children may last for several hours, Johnson said — and in some cases, children may require hospitalization for several days.

Although cannabis possession is legal in some states, it remains illegal on a federal level, Johnson said.

"This means that for cannabis edibles, there are no federal regulations for childproofing or use of packaging that is not attractive to children," she said.

"Because of this, it is very important to keep all cannabis edible products far away and out of reach of children."

In the event of an accidental consumption, the first step is to gather the facts, said Woodcock.

"The packaging of the edible will tell you what kind of edible they ate and the THC level or other cannabinoid content, such as CBD or CBN," she said.

LOOK WHO'S EXPERIMENTING WITH MARIJUANA TODAY MORE THAN ANY OTHER AGE GROUP

Regardless of whether the child has symptoms, Woodcock said it’s important to reach out to a medical professional.

"Call 911 if they’re having severe symptoms, like trouble breathing or changes in behavior," she said.

"It’s important to keep in mind that the effects of cannabis edibles can take an hour or two to appear," she noted. "So just because your child seems fine at first doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way."

 

If you keep cannabis in your home, experts say to store it in a secure location that’s out of reach of children.

If you don’t notice any changes, you should still contact Poison Control, either online at www.poison.org or by phone at 1-800-222-1222, to receive "free, personalized, and evidence-based medical guidance for monitoring and treatment," said Johnson.

If you keep cannabis in your home, Woodcock said to treat it like a prescription medication and keep it in a secure location that’s out of reach of children — ideally a lockbox.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"Make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between a cannabis edible and a regular food item," she said.

"Keep cannabis products in their original packaging, and make sure it’s clearly marked to avoid any confusion."

"Since there’s not much information on the long-term effects of a cannabis overdose in children, prevention is truly key to protecting your child’s safety," Woodcock also said.

 

[Cold War]

Sounds like a bunch of nonsense. Big scary headline that is misleading at best. 
 

How many school aged kids are getting doctor prescribed THC .  Why couldn’t you give your kid a gummy before he left for school.  The effects last at least 4 hrs.  

[f7ben]

16 minutes ago, Cold War said:

Sounds like a bunch of nonsense. Big scary headline that is misleading at best. 
 

How many school aged kids are getting doctor prescribed THC .  Why couldn’t you give your kid a gummy before he left for school.  The effects last at least 4 hrs.  

This is a bullshit headline to get retards riled up. My neighbor has a child that has debilitating seizures multiple times per day. The kid was going to have to have round the clock care. A few years ago they started her in a heavy dose of prescription thc and cbd and it cut the seizures to nearly zero. The kid is still handicapped but she’s able to go to school now and is headed towards a somewhat functional life. That’s what this is about 

Edited October 8, 2023 by f7ben

[EvilBird]

Yet People have their kids all hopped on on ritalin and adderral and think nothing of it.

No reason why a child would need THC or CBD unless like already mentioned , seizures . 

Bizarre article 

[steve from amherst]

9 hours ago, Cold War said:

Sounds like a bunch of nonsense. Big scary headline that is misleading at best. 
 

How many school aged kids are getting doctor prescribed THC .  Why couldn’t you give your kid a gummy before he left for school.  The effects last at least 4 hrs.  

Thats exactly what it is. 

[SSFB]