Accidental Cannabis Edible Ingestion in Two Toddlers Revealed Very Slow THC Elimination
Two children aged 12 and 15 months who accidentally ingested cannabis edibles had peak THC blood levels of 45-55 mcg/L, with THC taking 22-53 hours to clear by half, far slower than in adults.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Peak plasma THC concentrations were 45.0 mcg/L in Case 1 and 54.7 mcg/L in Case 2. THC elimination was remarkably slow: half-life was 52.5 hours in Case 1 and 21.7 hours in Case 2 (adult half-life is typically 1-3 hours for intravenous THC). CBD was barely detectable. The clinical presentation was nonspecific, which initially delayed diagnosis.
Key Numbers
Case 1: peak THC 45.0 mcg/L, t1/2 52.5 hours, kel 0.013 h-1; Case 2: peak THC 54.7 mcg/L, t1/2 21.7 hours, kel 0.031 h-1; CBD: undetectable in Case 1, only 1.11 mcg/L in first sample of Case 2; ages 12 and 15 months
How They Did This
Case series of two pediatric patients (12 and 15 months old) who unintentionally ingested cannabis edibles. Four plasma samples per patient were collected and analyzed using validated LC-MS/MS. Non-compartmental analysis calculated toxicokinetic profiles.
Why This Research Matters
Accidental cannabis edible ingestion by children is an increasing public health concern. This study reveals that very young children eliminate THC far more slowly than adults, meaning effects may last much longer and blood testing remains positive for extended periods.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis edibles become more common in homes, accidental pediatric exposures will likely increase. The finding that THC elimination in infants may take 2-4 times longer than in adults has direct implications for emergency room management and monitoring duration.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only two cases, exact amount ingested unknown, individual variation in elimination may be large, limited serial sampling (four samples each), cannot generalize elimination half-lives from two patients
Questions This Raises
- ?Why do infants eliminate THC so much more slowly than adults?
- ?Should emergency departments extend monitoring duration for pediatric cannabis ingestion?
- ?Would age-specific dosing nomograms help predict resolution?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- THC half-life in these toddlers was 22-53 hours, far exceeding typical adult clearance
- Evidence Grade:
- Case report of only two patients; provides novel toxicokinetic data but cannot establish generalizable pediatric THC parameters
- Study Age:
- Published 2025
- Original Title:
- Accidental cannabis intoxication in two young children: clinical presentation and toxicokinetics - a case series.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in pharmacology, 16, 1695194 (2025)
- Authors:
- Cafaro, Alessia(2), Pigliasco, Federica(2), Barco, Sebastiano(3), Negro, Ilaria, Piccotti, Emanuela, Manfredini, Luca, Mahameed, Samir, Bandettini, Roberto, Debbia, Carla, Mattioli, Francesca, Cangemi, Giuliana
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06142
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How long does THC stay in a child's system after accidental ingestion?
In these two toddlers, THC took 22-53 hours to decrease by half, much longer than the typical 1-3 hour half-life in adults. This means effects and detectable blood levels could persist for days.
What are the symptoms of accidental cannabis ingestion in children?
The clinical presentation was initially nonspecific, leading to delayed diagnosis. This underscores the importance of toxicological screening when young children present with unexplained neurological symptoms.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06142APA
Cafaro, Alessia; Pigliasco, Federica; Barco, Sebastiano; Negro, Ilaria; Piccotti, Emanuela; Manfredini, Luca; Mahameed, Samir; Bandettini, Roberto; Debbia, Carla; Mattioli, Francesca; Cangemi, Giuliana. (2025). Accidental cannabis intoxication in two young children: clinical presentation and toxicokinetics - a case series.. Frontiers in pharmacology, 16, 1695194. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1695194
MLA
Cafaro, Alessia, et al. "Accidental cannabis intoxication in two young children: clinical presentation and toxicokinetics - a case series.." Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1695194
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Accidental cannabis intoxication in two young children: clin..." RTHC-06142. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/cafaro-2025-accidental-cannabis-intoxication-in
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.