The mother of a nine-year-old boy says packaging that depicts highly potent cannabis as a"treat," as shown in this handout image, led her son and his classmates at a Halifax school to consume them and become violently ill earlier this week.
The school sent MacDonald an image of the package of "strawberry/grape" edibles branded as "Nerd Bites" that was found at the school after the children became ill. MacDonald says the packaging is dangerous for children her son's age who are unaware of the potential danger of cannabis. She said when she arrived at the school her boy was delirious, anxious and crying. The usually healthy child vomited seven times, had a decreased heart rate and his blood pressure fell as emergency staff provided him with fluids intravenously.
He said the drug can cause brain activity to be depressed in children to the level where they may have to be admitted to intensive care and provided ventilation and other life supports. "Like gummies, they look like candy, they look like energy drinks, they look like any other products that you can have. And the packaging is specifically designed to be appealing," he said.