An 18-month-old was hospitalized after ingesting marijuana in his parents’ home in San Diego, California.
The toddler was taken to Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center on Sunday evening and a nurse reported him to be lethargic, according to Fox 5 News.
Police are investigating neglect and child abuse charges for the toddler’s parents because the marijuana was available for him to ingest.
The boy has since been transferred to Rady Children’s Hospital and his condition remains unclear.
Experts warn that children ingesting marijuana is on the rise in states across the United States and could cause harmful effects on their health in the long-term.
A toddler in San Diego was hospitalized after ingesting marijuana. Children under 12 can experience adverse effects if they ingest the substance because of their size and weight. States such as Colorado have seen an increase in children ingesting marijuana
Acute intoxication of marijuana can be harmful for children under the age of 12 because of their size and weight.
‘Edible’ marijuana has stronger effects than when it is smoked or vaporized.
Children who accidentally ingest the drug are at risk of acute intoxication because they aren’t large enough to handle the drugs effects.
Symptoms will also last longer when ingested because the marijuana has to be digested through the intestinal systems before it can wear off.
These symptoms from the THC levels in the marijuana can effect the child’s brain in terms of their mood, appetite, sleepiness and balance.
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinoid, is the main psychoactive strain found on the cannabis plant and is used in most recreational marijuana.
Rates of marijuana exposure in young children in Colorado have increased since 2009, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics.
Experts said this is due to the medical and recreational legalization of the substance across the United States.
Colorado has seen a 150 percent increase since 2014 of children who ingested marijuana, and it was reported that many ate it in the form of candy or baked goods.
California also legalized both medical and recreational marijuana and has seen an increase in children ingesting the substance.
Although there hasn’t been any studies yet to show the long-term effects of THC on children, experts warn that they should not be ingesting marijuana due potential long-term risks.
These risks include potential memory impairment, decision-making problems and difficulty concentrating.
Marijuana is legal for medical and recreational use in eight states: Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, California and Maine.
It is also legal for strictly medical use in the District of Columbia and 21 states: Montana, North Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware and Hawaii.