Two children hospitalized after eating cannabis gummies, northern Ont. man charged
A 45-year-old man from Sagamok First Nation is facing criminal charges after two young children were hospitalized in March for cannabis poisoning after consuming large cannabis-infused gummies left unattended in a home.
NO071825_ANISHINABEK
An Anishinabek Police Service officer is shown in uniform in this undated promotional image. (File photo/Supplied/Anishinabek Police Service)
The Anishinabek Police Service laid charges following a months-long investigation into the incident, which sent both children to intensive care.
The incident
On March 22, officers responded to a call at a Sagamok First Nation residence after two children under the age of five ingested cannabis edibles left in a plastic bag on a table.
According to police, the gummies were roughly the size of a cellphone – approximately 5 inches long, 1.5 inches wide and a quarter-inch thick. One child consumed an entire gummy, while the other ate half.
The remaining edibles were seized by authorities.
cannabis-infused gummy candy
Lime-flavoured cannabis-infused gummy candy is show in this file photo from June 2016. (File photo/Gillian Flaccus/AP Photo)
Both children exhibited symptoms of cannabis toxicity and were transported to hospital, where they were admitted to the intensive care unit.
'They have since recovered and have been released from hospital,' Anishinabek police said in a news release Tuesday.
Charges filed
As a result of the investigation, the accused has been charged with two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and was released on an undertaking.
Authorities emphasized that community safety is a shared responsibility and urged anyone with information to contact investigators at 705-865-2868 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Rising risks of cannabis poisoning in children
Police officials say this case highlights growing concerns over accidental cannabis ingestion among children. Hospitals and the Ontario Poison Centre have reported an increase in emergency visits and calls related to cannabis poisoning, with most cases involving children under 12 – particularly those under five.
Severe cases can lead to:
Coma,
respiratory failure requiring a ventilator and
in rare instances death.
Anishinabek police, in their news release, reiterated the importance of safe storage and vigilance to prevent similar incidents and offered advice to avoid them.
How to prevent accidental cannabis exposure
Police and health officials warn that illegal, unregulated edibles – often packaged to resemble popular candy or snacks – pose a higher risk to children due to their appealing appearance.
Cannabis
Illegal or unregulated cannabis edibles are often packaged to resemble popular candy or snacks. Several pounds of marijuana and cannabis edibles seized by Ontario police in April 2021 are shown. (File photo/Supplied/Toronto Police Service)
Authorities recommend:
Purchasing only legal, regulated cannabis products with child-resistant packaging.
with child-resistant packaging. Storing edibles in locked containers , separate from regular food.
, separate from regular food. Clearly labelling cannabis products and keeping them out of sight and reach of children.
Parents are also advised to ask caregivers or hosts if cannabis is present in homes where their children visit.
Marijuana gummies
Edible marijuana samples are set aside for evaluation at a cannabis testing laboratory in this undated photo. (File photo/THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Chris Carlson)
Signs of cannabis poisoning & emergency response
If a child shows symptoms such as vomiting, drowsiness, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, agitation or anxiety, seek immediate medical help by going to the nearest hospital or calling 911.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Police appealing for witnesses, info after driver injured in single-vehicle crash in north Etobicoke
Ontario Provincial Police say a Sudbury driver has been charged with dangerous driving and is a suspect in other incidents following his arrest March 3 near Toronto. Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a 54-year-old driver was injured in a single-vehicle collision in north Etobicoke on Saturday afternoon. The crash happened at 3 p.m. on the northbound ramp to Highway 427 at Finch Avenue West. The Toronto OPP says the motorist was heading northbound and had exited at Finch. They then went through the intersection and drove into the ditch before hitting a barrier, police say. The driver was taken to a trauma centre. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 416-235-4981 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
6 re-vined trailers found at Caledon storage facility; Brampton man charged: police
Boxes are seen inside a re-vined trailer that was found in Caledon on July 11. (PRP photo) A man from Brampton is facing numerous charges after police say they found six trailers that had been re-vined at an outdoor storage facility in Peel Region. The discovery was made on July 11 in the Town of Caledon. Peel Regional Police say officers also located about $56,000 worth of stolen property at that site that had been previously reported to them. On July 22, Satwinder Singh, 24, of Brampton, was arrested and charged with six counts of tampering with vehicle identification number and seven counts of possession of property obtained by crime. He was released with a promise to appear in court at a later date and has an upcoming appearance. Investigators say the accused had rented the aforementioned storage facility in Caledon. This investigation is ongoing and anyone with further information is urged to contact Peel police's Commercial Auto Crime Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3310, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
B.C. tribunal settles dispute between neighbours over fire that engulfed hedge, damaged fence
A man who sparked a fire that engulfed his next-door neighbours' hedges and charred their fence has been ordered to pay $4,200 in damages. The blaze broke out in West Kelowna on Boxing Day 2023 – triggering a response form the local fire department and the RCMP, according to a recent decision from the Civil Resolution Tribunal. Terrance Molsberry and Susan Lobb filed a claim against Andrew Wingerak, alleging he 'set fire to their property,' and seeking reimbursement for the cost of replacing the burned hedges and fence, the decision said. It was 'undisputed' that Wingerak caused the fire, according to the decision. '(Wingerak) placed hot ashes along the fence dividing his property from the applicants'. He did so to kill weeds. The ashes caused the fence and hedges to catch fire,' tribunal member David Jiang wrote. The fire department responded to a 911 call from another neighbour who spotted the flames and put the blaze out with a garden hose. The decision said firefighters called in the police who looked into allegations the fire was set deliberately but were 'satisfied this was not the case.' However, the tribunal found Wingerak was liable for damages on the basis of negligence. 'I find that the respondent acted unreasonably by dumping hot ashes near the fence and hedges. This created a serious risk of harm to both property and people,' Jiang wrote. 'I am also satisfied that the respondent's actions caused damage, and that the damage was reasonably foreseeable. The hot ashes were clearly a fire hazard that could cause fire-related damage.' Molsberry and Lobb sought damages equivalent to a landscapers quoted cost for replacing three cedar trees and one fence panel, including the purchase of soil and rental of an excavator, according to the decision. Wingerak, on the other hand, argued the damage was relatively insignificant and repairing it would cost much less. A review of security camera photos ultimately weighed in favour of Molsberry and Lobb, the decision said. 'They show that that some of the applicants' tallest hedges caught fire and 'candled.' The depicted fire and smoke were considerable,' Jiang wrote. 'Photos of the fire's aftermath show the damaged hedges suffered significant burn damage. The wood fence also had blackened portions. The respondent says the damage was minimal, but the photos contradict this.' Wingerak was ordered to pay $4,222.05 in damages for negligence, as well as $175 in tribunal fees.
