# 37% of Cannabis Poisonings in Wisconsin Involved Children Under 5 > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/pediatric-cannabis-poisonings-risks-safety/ > **Published:** 2026-03-13T11:34:23-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T11:08:04-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Pediatric cannabis poisonings are a growing risk, especially from edibles. Learn about symptoms, prevention, and safety counseling for caregivers. --- ✦ New CED Clinical Relevance #75 Strong Clinical Relevance High-quality evidence with meaningful patient or clinical significance. PediatricsSafetyPolicyResearch Why This Matters Clinicians need to be aware that [pediatric cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-for-childrens-behavior/) poisonings represent a significant and growing poisoning risk, requiring prompt recognition of symptoms like altered mental status, ataxia, and bradycardia in young children who may have accessed edibles. Parents and caregivers should receive clear counseling about safe storage of cannabis products separate from food items, as edibles are particularly dangerous for young children who cannot distinguish them from regular candy or snacks. Emergency departments and primary care providers should maintain a low threshold for suspecting cannabis exposure in children presenting with unexplained neurological or cardiovascular symptoms, especially as [cannabis legalization](https://cedclinic.com/the-forgotten-history-of-hemp-in-america/) increases product availability in homes. Clinical Summary A 2025 analysis of Wisconsin Poison Center data reveals that 37% of cannabis poisoning calls involved children under 5 years old, with edible products accounting for the majority of pediatric exposures. The predominance of accidental ingestions in very young children underscores the accessibility of [cannabis edibles](https://cedclinic.com/decarboxylating-cannabis-process-why-how/) in household settings and their appeal due to candy-like appearance and packaging. These exposures resulted in symptoms ranging from drowsiness and altered mental status to more serious effects including seizures and respiratory depression, with some cases requiring emergency department evaluation. The findings highlight a significant [public health](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-mold-contamination-risks-recall-safety/) concern that clinicians should address during anticipatory guidance with cannabis-using parents and caregivers, particularly regarding secure storage of edible products away from children. Healthcare providers should maintain heightened awareness of cannabis toxicity as a differential diagnosis in young children presenting with altered consciousness, ataxia, or seizures, and should counsel patients that edibles pose particular risks due to delayed onset of effects and accidental overdose potential. Clinicians caring for families with [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/) should implement explicit safety counseling about childproof storage, product labeling verification, and recognition of toxicity symptoms to prevent pediatric exposures. Dr. Caplan’s Take “When we see edible cannabis products packaged indistinguishably from regular candy and placed on accessible shelves, we’re essentially conducting an uncontrolled experiment on our youngest patients, and the poison center data tells us exactly how that experiment is going. As clinicians, we need to advocate loudly for child-resistant packaging standards and clear labeling requirements, because counseling parents about accidental ingestion is reactive medicine when we should be preventing it entirely.” Clinical Perspective The rising proportion of cannabis poisonings in young children reported to poison centers reflects both increased cannabis availability through legalization and the particular vulnerability of toddlers to accidental ingestion of edible products. Clinicians should recognize that [pediatric cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-for-childrens-behavior/) exposures often present with nonspecific symptoms including lethargy, ataxia, tachycardia, and altered mental status, which may be mistaken for other acute illnesses or ingestions, creating diagnostic complexity. It is important to note that severe toxicity requiring intensive care is uncommon in children, and most cases resolve with supportive care, though cases have included seizures and respiratory depression warranting caution. Healthcare providers should routinely counsel caregivers and adolescent patients about secure storage of cannabis products separate from food items and educate them on recognizing signs of accidental exposure. When evaluating a young child with acute neurological or gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly in states 💬 Join the Conversation Have a question about how this applies to your situation? 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Share it: [𝕏 Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Just+read+this+on+CEDclinic.com%3A+37%25+of+cannabis+poisonings+in+Wisconsin+involved+children+under+5+%40drcaplan&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jsonline.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fhealth%2F2026%2F03%2F13%2F37-of-cannabis-poisonings-in-wisconsin-involved-children-under-5%2F89119707007%2F)[in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jsonline.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fhealth%2F2026%2F03%2F13%2F37-of-cannabis-poisonings-in-wisconsin-involved-children-under-5%2F89119707007%2F)[🦅 Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Just+read+this%3A+37%25+of+cannabis+poisonings+in+Wisconsin+involved+children+under+5+--+via+%40drcaplan.bsky.social+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jsonline.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fhealth%2F2026%2F03%2F13%2F37-of-cannabis-poisonings-in-wisconsin-involved-children-under-5%2F89119707007%2F)[📷 Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan/)[📝 Read more on Substack](https://substack.com/@doctorapproved)[🔔 Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/category/cannabis-news/feed/) Related Articles - [CED Digest: 392 Items — March 11, 2026](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-compounds-fatty-liver-disease-2026/) 📰 Source: [https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/health/2026/03/13/37-of-cannabis-poisonings-in-wisconsin-involved-children-under-5/89119707007/](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/health/2026/03/13/37-of-cannabis-poisonings-in-wisconsin-involved-children-under-5/89119707007/) Further Reading CED Clinic Blog[Why Cannabis Works](https://cedclinic.com/why-cannabis-works/) Evidence Watch[Cannabis and Heart Health](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-study/) CED Clinic Blog[Cannabis for Sleep](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-for-sleep/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) RELATED READING AT CED CLINIC Continue exploring the evidence [More Kentucky children dying to 'preventable' overdoses, new report shows](https://cedclinic.com/pediatric-cannabinoid-ingestions-preventable-overdose-risks/) Explore recent data on preventable overdoses among children in Kentucky, highlighting the importance of safety and prevention. [Read More](https://cedclinic.com/pediatric-cannabinoid-ingestions-preventable-overdose-risks/) [Pediatrics column: Household product safety for children](https://cedclinic.com/pediatric-cannabis-exposure-risks-household-product-safety/) A detailed look at household product safety tips to protect children from accidental poisonings and exposures. [Learn More](https://cedclinic.com/pediatric-cannabis-exposure-risks-household-product-safety/) [Pain meds are top cause of accidental poisonings in Wisconsin](https://cedclinic.com/accidental-cannabis-edible-poisoning-children-wisconsin/) An analysis of accidental poisonings in Wisconsin, focusing on pain medications and implications for child safety. [Explore Article](https://cedclinic.com/accidental-cannabis-edible-poisoning-children-wisconsin/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).