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A six-year-old girl from Lancaster Township is recovering after accidentally overdosing on marijuana edibles she found in her backyard on Tuesday (March 31). The incident occurred on Sterling Place when the child, playing with her siblings, discovered a package of marijuana edibles on the ground and ingested them without her parents' knowledge.
Later that evening, the girl's parents noticed she was lethargic and withdrawn, assuming she was tired. The next morning, her condition worsened with shallow breathing and seizures. She was taken to Lancaster General Hospital and later transferred to Hershey Medical Center Children's Hospital, where medical personnel confirmed she had overdosed on marijuana edibles. After several days of treatment, she has recovered and is in good health.
An investigation by Lancaster Township Police and Lancaster County Children and Youth concluded that the overdose was accidental and the parents were not at fault. Authorities found remnants of the marijuana gummy package in the backyard, consistent with illegal forms of edibles in Pennsylvania. It is suspected that an unknown person dropped the package while using a nearby public pathway.
Police are urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of consuming what may appear to be innocent candy packages found on the ground. More information about the hazards of children consuming edibles can be found on the National Capital Poison Center website.