Hawaii island police transported a 16-year-old boy Friday from the Big
Island to a juvenile facility on Oahu after he reportedly sold two girls brownies believed to be tainted with marijuana.
One of the girls was taken by ambulance to Kona Community Hospital from Kealakehe High School after passing out and convulsing after eating the pakalolo confection. A second student also went to the hospital after ingesting the treat. Both girls have since been discharged from the hospital.
“Accidental over-ingestion of cannabis can have adverse effects like any medicine. Homemade preparations made with cannabis of uncertain potency greatly raises the likelihood of these accidents,” said Michael Backes, author of “Cannabis Pharmacy” and educational director for Maui Grown Therapies, in a statement. “The good news is that victims of cannabis overdoses usually fully
recover within six hours. There has never been a
fatality from a toxic reaction to eating cannabis, though many individuals have suffered short-term overdoses over the years, joining the ranks of other ‘cookie casualties.’”
“There were zero deaths due to toxic reactions to oral ingestion of cannabis in Hawaii or anywhere else in the United States,” Backes said.
The teenage boy, who has been charged with
promoting a controlled
substance as well as third-
degree assault, is now at the Hale Hoomalu Juvenile Detention Facility in
Kapolei.
School officials found
additional brownies in
his backpack upon investigation. A brownie and
marijuana were also found in a second student’s
belongings.
“Without a toxicology
report, it is impossible to know what caused the young girl to convulse and pass out. There are countless ways that a brownie made by a 16-year-old could have been contaminated by noncannabis toxins,” said Carl Bergquist, executive director of the Drug Policy Forum of
Hawaii. “While high-potency THC in a brownie can lead to side effects, those would normally take some time to kick in.”
The incident highlights the need for safe medical cannabis, including manufactured products, he said.
“While some products are currently available at dispensaries, edibles such as baked goods are currently not allowed to be sold,” Bergquist said. “This puts patients registered with the Department of Health in a situation where they have to make something themselves. This incident highlights the risks associated with that.”
