SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Sheriff's Office is warning the public that some THC products that claim to contain little or no THC actually contain high levels of the chemical.
THC is the chemical in cannabis that gives people that high sensation.
The sheriff's office's regional crime lab actually tested 110 THC products, including several food products and edibles such as candy, chocolate, cookies, brownies, and drinks that claim to have no or little THC. The crime lab found those claims were misleading.
Sheriff Kelly Martinez said of particular concern, were products that appeared to be deceptively marketed towards children.
"Kids might think it's just another treat, but it's far more dangerous," said Sheriff Martinez.
She said deputies conducted undercover buys throughout the year at several locations including smoke shops, gas stations, convenience stores, and dispensaries. They went to cities across the county including Del Mar, Vista, Alpine, Poway, Rancho San Diego and Encinitas.
Dr. Natalie Laub with Rady Children's Hospital. She has been researching accidental and intentional THC ingestion in kids since 2016.
"Our data shows we are entering a public health crisis for our children," she said
She said the number of kids under the age of 10 who have accidentally ingested THC has continued to rise. She said Rady's sees more than 100 kids a year who have accidentally ingested THC. The average age is 3 years old.
Some of the packaging for these products is brightly colored as if it's aimed at children.
"The products look like candy and food that they see in their every day lives," she said.
She said that sometimes products are mislabeled as "Safe" and parents leave them out, not realizing the high levels of THC that are inside them, and children end up very sick.
Dr. Laub said there is no amount of THC that is safe for a child. Even a small amount can be deadly. She said when it comes to teens, the fastest growing group of teens using cannabis is girls in the age range of 11 to 13 years old.
There's also a concern that an adult could ingest these products and then get behind the wheel, without realizing they could be at risk for driving under the influence.
Last month, the state of California recently enacted emergency state regulations.
The sheriff's office is sending out letters to businesses reminding them they are legally responsible for any products they sell. According to Sheriff Martinez, owners could potentially face felony charges if they knowingly sell harmful products that are misleading to the public.
