We’re officially in the season of spooks and scares, all in the name of fun. But one trend poses danger that’s all too real this time of year.

Too often, kids confuse cannabis edibles with real candy, but UNM Health experts explain how to make sure your child’s Halloween candy haul is safe. Joseph Lambson, PharmD, DABAT, the director of the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center urges adults to keep an eye on all candy children bring home from their door-to-door collection.

“Over the past few years, the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center has managed over 1,000 exposures to cannabis products since 2021, and roughly 50% of those have been in edible cannabis products,” Lambson said.

He also said about half of those exposures were in kids 12 and younger, and 86% of those cases required a trip to the hospital. 

He added that cannabis exposure in young children tends to be accidental. 

“When a child sees a full chocolate bar that’s actually an edible cannabis product, it can be hard for them to distinguish that,” Lambson said. “So, they may eat what seems like a normal amount of chocolate, but it ends up being an extremely high amount of active THC.”

Lambson said it takes just a small amount of cannabis to make a child sick, and exposure can lead to more serious health risks.

“Unlike adults, when small children get too much THC product, they get very drowsy and very sleepy,” Lambson said. “It can make it difficult for them to breathe.” 

So how do you keep the magic of Halloween from turning into a nightmare? 

“It’s much easier to prevent this from happening than it is to later treat it because it has happened,” Lambson said about keeping cannabis out of childrens’ hands. 

Jacqueline Kakos is a health education consultant at the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center. She recommends keeping any cannabis in the house out of reach or locked away. 

“If you want to be extra careful, I suggest you get a lock bag or a lock box, so the cannabis gets locked inside,” Kakos said. “They also come in combination locks as well.”

If exposure does happen, both Kakos and Lambson said to always call the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center to get expert advice as soon as possible. 

“Parents should not be afraid to call the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center,” Lambson said. “We are a free and confidential service, and our focus is on making sure that the child gets the medical care that they need.”

Whether it’s an emergency or you have questions about a potential exposure to something dangerous, you can call the Center for free at any time, day or night, at 1-800-222-1222.

For more information and resources, you can visit the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center website here