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As children across the Arklatex are getting excited about gathering as much candy as they can during Halloween, parents need to be extra vigilant about the safety of the candy that's collected.

Louisiana Radio Network is reporting that children from across the state are becoming hospitalized at an alarming rate after eating candy laced with THC.  Because the candy is marketed to look like 'legitimate' candy brands, it's important for parents to carefully scrutinize their children's candy.

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Mark Ryan, the executive director of the Louisiana Poison Control Center, says over the last several years, the instances of kids becoming sick from eating THC-laced candy have increased steadily — and shockingly. 

“Back to 2019, the total number of cases that we received here at our poison center was four,” says Ryan. “In 2020, that number went to 27. In 2021, it went to 34. 2022, 62; 2023, 107; and to date (in 2024) right now, we’re at 128.” 

Ryan says part of the problem is that the makers of this THC-laced candy are marketing them specifically to children. 

MIKE MARTINDALE
MIKE MARTINDALE
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“They have creative names,” Ryan says. “Sometimes the package looks very much like what you would find on a shelf in a grocery store.”
The legislature legalized THC-laced edibles back in 2022. 

They’re available at vape shops and, although by law you need to be 21 to purchase them, that’s not stopping them from getting into the hands – and mouths of children. 

“They (can’t) necessarily can buy them themselves,” says Ryan. “But parents, older friends who are of age can buy them, and then they’re at the house, they’re in the car, they’re laying on a table at a vape pen, so they’re accessible.” 

And the effects that this candy has on children can be frightening. 

“They get things like dizziness, their heart rate increase, they become extremely euphoric, they can hallucinate, they have coordination (problems), look like a drunk person, they don’t make sense, they have cognitive impairments, they have sedation, anxiety increases, nausea and vomiting are pretty common,” Ryan says 

Ryan says so far, no kids have died from eating THC-laced candy. 

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