IRELAND: Three children admitted to hospital after consuming suspected cannabis jelly

Dublin: Three children admitted to hospital after consuming suspected cannabis jelly Children became upset after eating jelly in west Dublin on Sunday. A small quantity of the product, marketed as Rund's Sweets, was seized and Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) is analyzing the situation.

The HSE has warned that exposure to synthetic cannabinoids can cause dizziness, confusion, unusual sweating, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, and chest pain/fast heartbeat. It can also cause nausea, vomiting, agitation, aggression, psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, seizures or fits.

For people who use cannabis, we remind them of the current risk of synthetic cannabinoid exposure and warn people not to panic or hesitate to seek medical attention if someone has an unexpected reaction or physical or mental discomfort following use.

Three young children were admitted to hospital after consuming jelly suspected to contain drugs. A garda spokesman said their condition was not life-threatening and gardaí were investigating. Gardai had issued warnings to parents months before the incident in west Dublin on Sunday. A "small number" of children were hospitalized in the Tipperary region in December after eating Jolly Rancher jelly, the health service said. Analysis from Forensic Science Ireland found the jellies contained "new and potentially dangerous substances known as synthetic cannabinoids".

In January, the HSE warned the public about public health risks associated with the appearance of synthetic cannabinoids in jellies and sweets sold as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) edibles in Ireland.

Synthetic cannabinoids "increase the risk of drug emergencies because they cause more severe adverse effects", and their use "has caused serious poisonings, mass poisonings and deaths internationally in recent years".

We're currently concerned about synthetic cannabinoids appearing in jellies/sweets sold as cannabis edibles.

The HSE advise the public that there is a high level of risk associated with edibles currently available

See our January risk communication here: https://t.co/xDdfsWiHvS pic.twitter.com/MXMMqSOIh4

— HSE Drugs.ie (@drugsdotie) February 20, 2023

"Counterfeit food products available in the market are expected to be manufactured in secret laboratories and the strength and content of the products cannot be guaranteed," the statement continued.

"Many of these recently seized products were analyzed by Forensic Science Ireland and found to contain only newer and more dangerous synthetic cannabinoids, and in fact no THC as indicated on the packaging," the warning says.