Syracuse, N.Y. — Nearly 200 children under the age of 6 ended up in emergency rooms last year after ingesting or being exposed to cannabis, according to the Upstate New York Poison Center.

Of those, 103 calls to the poison center were from emergency room staff. The other 86 calls came from homes where children had consumed cannabis. Those kids were also referred to the closest emergency room, the center said.

Overall, the number of cannabis-related calls to the poison center is down in 2024 compared with the previous year. Other household items — from cleaning supplies to prescription drugs to alcohol — are still far more common dangers for kids and adults, according to the center’s data.

With cannabis, the most common exposure among children involved the consumption of edibles, such as gummies or snacks, according to the center, which takes calls from nearly all of New York state through their 24/7 hotline.

The numbers highlight a concern from health experts in places like New York, where adult use of cannabis products is now legal.

Many products containing marijuana look like candy. These edibles often come in packaging that mimics snack foods and can appeal to children.

That leads to kids accidentally ingesting tetrahydrocannabinol, the ingredient in marijuana that makes you high, according to Poison Center Director Dr. Vincent Calleo.

In some cases, that can cause low energy, dizziness or nausea. In rarer cases, a child may experience unresponsiveness or seizures.

If you think a child has consumed cannabis, the first thing to do is remain calm and call for help, Calleo said. (See safety tips below.)

But you should also look for immediate changes, he added.

“If the child is having any trouble breathing, is unresponsive, or is having a seizure, call 911 immediately,” he said. “Otherwise, we recommend calling the poison center for advice on the next best steps.”

Adults, too, are seeking help from the poison center after ingesting or using cannabis products.

Adults usually call the poison center or medical professionals after having an unusual reaction to recreational use, Calleo said.

“It’s pretty common for adults to call and say, ‘Hey, I just smoked some cannabis, and now I’m having some weird effects,’” Calleo said.

It’s unclear how many of those reactions came because the cannabis products were laced with other drugs, Calleo said.

Overall, Upstate’s poison center received more than 500 calls last year for cannabis-related exposures. That’s down from about 700 in 2023.

Calleo said the decrease could be due to several factors, including the increasing number of licensed cannabis dispensaries, better-equipped healthcare providers and more outreach efforts.

Reports of concerns about cannabis remain far less frequent than other potential poisonings, according to the center’s data.

The cannabis-related calls to the center in 2024 were just over 1% of the total calls that reported exposure of a potential poisoning.

The poison center, which is located in Syracuse, covers all 54 counties north and west of New York City and Long Island, including Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Syracuse.

Help is available 24 hours a day. To speak with a specially trained poisoning expert, visit the center’s triage website or call their hotline at 1-800-222-1222.

The center suggests these cannabis safety tips:

• Store cannabis products out of reach of children or in a lock box.
• Keep cannabis products in their original packaging and labeling.
• Keep cannabis products apart from other household items.
• Ask visitors to store cannabis products away from children.
• Make a list of the cannabis products in the home in case medical treatment is needed.

The poison center also listed the other top poisonings for 2024:

Pharmaceutical

1. Analgesics
2. Antidepressants
3. Antihistamines
4. Sedatives or hypnotics
5. Cardiovascular drugs

Non-Pharmaceutical

1. Household cleaning substances
2. Cosmetics/personal care products
3. Foreign bodies
4. Pesticides
5. Alcohols