One of the leading doctors in Ireland has issued a severe warning about cannabis jellies as the number of children ending up in hospital as a result of the dangerous sweets has increased.
The usage of the THC-laced confectionary has risen in Ireland in 2021, but due to their similarity in appearance to regular sweets, they are ending up in the hands of children.
The edibles look like the regular sweets, smell like the regular sweets and in some cases even taste like the product.
However, they contain very significant levels of the psychotropic THC.
And speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland earlier on Tuesday Dr Paddy Fitzpatrick, Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant at Temple Street said: "We have seen a significant increase this year in the amount of children presenting with poisoning from edible cannabis, mainly in the form of cannabis jellies.
"This is a big concern for us in paediatric medicine as these products are packaged and marketed in a copycat branded way, very similar to normal jellies or sweets.
"Young children can easily consume large toxic amounts accidentally," added Dr Fitzpatrick.
"Thankfully the children we have seen have all made full recoveries but the concern is that long-term harmful effects are a possibility."
Earlier in 2021, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued a number of warnings about cannabis sweets and that THC is a toxic contaminant.
They said: "Sweets containing cannabis components are being sold online or by other means.
"They are dangerous, particularly for young people and those with prior health conditions who may consume them unwittingly. We are warning consumers about the dangers from eating these sweets with cannabis products added.
"People should only ever buy food from reputable sources and be sure they check the food labels. THC is not classified as food in the EU and is a controlled substance in Ireland."
