The number of young kids, especially toddlers, who accidentally ate marijuana-laced treats rose sharply over five years as pot became legal in more places in the U.S., according to a study published Tuesday.

More than 7,000 confirmed cases of kids younger than 6 eating marijuana edibles were reported to the nation’s poison control centers between 2017 and 2021, climbing from about 200 to more than 3,000 per year.

Nearly a quarter of the children wound up hospitalized, some seriously ill, according to a new analysis in the journal Pediatrics.

And those are just the reported cases, said Dr. Marit Tweet, a medical toxicologist with the Southern Illinois School of Medicine, who led the study.

Cases of kids eating pot products such as candies, chocolate and cookies have coincided with more states allowing medical and recreational cannabis use. Currently 37 U.S. states permit use of marijuana for medical purposes and 21 states regulate adult recreational use.

Tweet called for greater vigilance by parents and for more laws like those adopted by several states to make pot products — often packaged to look like kids’ candies and snacks — less appealing and accessible to children.

Right now an urgent warning for parents About the dangers of edible marijuana a New study from the Journal of pediatric Shows the number of kids under six who Accidentally ate Edibles increased Nearly 1400 percent last year That's a huge number WCNC Charlotte's Colin Mayfield joining us in the studio So Colin uh it's shocking when you think About that that percentage of an Increase what are doctors telling Parents about it it's pretty big and We're seeing that in our area too Carolyn here experts with MUSC in South Carolina they say they've seen numbers Go up just like you spoke of doctors They're warning parents same kids Experiencing cannabis poisoning have Slowed breathing and heart rates but They say symptoms may not be exactly What you'd expect so it's important to Stay vigilant for your kids it actually Leads to what we call central nervous System depression basically like a Lethargic State a state of of minimal to No responsiveness Freedom children which A lot of people would not associate with Uh with products associated with Marijuana cases of kids ingesting Edibles have continued to increase as More states allow recreational marijuana Use right now recreational marijuana is Legal in 21 states it's not legal in Either of the Carolinas however Dr

Jenkins says there are still risk Associated with Delta 8 gummies which Are sold in the Carolinas those contain Less THC than traditional Edibles making Them legal though doctors say they pose Their own dangers there has been one Childhood death in the past few years That has been Attributed to Delta Aid ingestion Amongst a four-year-old according to Data more than half of the kids who Ingested marijuana edibles were toddlers Ages two and three young kids are Curious I mean the the peak age in the Study and the PKS that we see is around Two years of age so kids who can walk Around who like to get into stuff who Can tell what things are interesting Maybe in bright packaging may look like Candy the study also shows more than 90 Percent of kids got the Edibles at home That's why doctors say it's so important To make sure these things are Out Of Reach so safe storage storing it far Away from where any any child could get To it and making sure it's it's sort of You know visibly healing to them as much As possible Yeah so doctors say if you think your Child may have ingested Edibles it's an Important point to get them medical Attention immediately as soon as Possible here so one more thing to put On your radar if you're a parent Carolyn

Just add it to the list now yeah you got To look out for that that's for sure Colin thanks so much

Charlotte, North Carolina – A Place For Families and Sports Fans

Charlotte, North Carolina is a large city with a population of nearly 700,000. It is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States.

Charlotte, North Carolina, is a place where people can find small town friendliness and plenty of things to do. It is a place for everyone, including families and sports fans. The weather is mild, with only a few days of snow each year.

There are museums, artwork, and history to explore. There are also excellent festivals in Charlotte. One of the best is Festival in the Park. This is a fall festival with live music and art exhibits.

The Latin-American Festival is another one of the great events. You can enjoy Latin food and drink, along with music workshops and lectures. In addition to festivals, Charlotte offers a variety of outdoor activities.

There is also an excellent wine and beer scene. There are many breweries in Charlotte. Some of the breweries are Heist Brewery and Birdsong Brewery. They both have great patios.

Charlotte, North Carolina, is ranked as the twenty-fourth best city for gigs. Glassdoor has ranked Charlotte as the twenty-fourth best place for a gig. American Airlines and Lowe’s are two of the top employers in the city.

There are a lot of churches in Charlotte. The Methodist denomination is the most prevalent. Other religions include Baptist, Presbyterian, and Catholic.

Charlotte, North Carolina is a great city for retirement. It has all four seasons, but summers can be hot. That’s why it’s ideal for people who are used to colder climates.