In children under 6, a delta-8 THC dose of 1.7 mg/kg identified 98% of cases that developed severe toxicity, providing a clinical reference point for poison center calls.
Emergency physicians, poison center staff, pediatricians, and parents concerned about accidental cannabis edible ingestion by children.
What the researchers found
Among 232 cases of young children who ingested delta-8 THC, those who consumed doses in the top quartile (above 17 mg/kg) had 3.4 times greater odds of severe toxicity and 5 times greater odds of prolonged toxicity. A cutoff of 1.7 mg/kg had 98% sensitivity for identifying severe toxicity.
Why it matters
With delta-8 THC products proliferating in states where delta-9 remains restricted, pediatric exposures have surged. This study gives healthcare providers the first dose-based reference points for assessing severity.
The numbers in context
232 cases, median age 3.0 years. Median ingested dose: 6.7 mg/kg. CNS depression in 75.5% of cases. Top quartile (>17 mg/kg): 3.43x odds of severe toxicity, 5.02x odds of prolonged toxicity. 1.7 mg/kg cutoff: 98% sensitivity.
How the study worked
Retrospective analysis of single-substance delta-8 THC ingestions in children under 6 reported to U.S. poison centers via the National Poison Data System. Dose-response relationships evaluated using logistic regression and ROC curve analysis.
What this study cannot tell us
Poison center data relies on caregiver-reported doses, which may be inaccurate. Delta-8 THC product labeling is notoriously unreliable. High sensitivity at 1.7 mg/kg came with low specificity (28%).
How to read the evidence
National poison center database provides broad coverage, but reliance on caregiver-reported doses and inconsistent product labeling limit precision.
When this study was published
2025 publication.
The bigger picture
Delta-8 THC products are often sold in candy-like edible forms that appeal to children, yet regulatory oversight and product labeling remain inconsistent. These dose-response findings parallel what has been seen with delta-9 THC in pediatric exposures.
Questions still open
- How do outcomes of pediatric delta-8 THC exposures compare to delta-9 exposures at equivalent doses?
- Would child-resistant packaging requirements for delta-8 products reduce pediatric exposures?
Common questions
How much delta-8 THC is 1.7 mg/kg for a typical toddler?
What does delta-8 THC toxicity look like in children?
Read the original research
Investigation of the toxic dose of ingested delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol among young children.
Injury epidemiology, 12(1), 63
Citation
Garay, Ryan S; Hays, Hannah L; Badeti, Jaahnavi; Rine, Natalie I; Gaw, Christopher E; Middelberg, Leah K; Smith, Gary A. (2025). Investigation of the toxic dose of ingested delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol among young children.. Injury epidemiology, 12(1), 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-025-00617-6
Explore the wider topic
- Surviving 4/20 Sober: A Practical Survival Guide
- CBT for Cannabis Recovery: How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Works
- The Cannabis Relapse Cycle: Quit, Feel Good, Get Complacent, Repeat
- Cold Turkey vs Tapering: Which Way to Quit Weed
- Dating Sober After Years of Being High: What Nobody Tells You
- Exercise as Medicine: Working Out After Quitting Weed
- Grieving Weed Itself: Mourning the Loss of a Companion
- How to Help Someone Quit Weed (When They're Not Ready)
- How to Quit Weed: A No-Judgment Step by Step Guide
- How to Talk to Your Teenager About Weed (Without Losing Them)
- Journaling Through Weed Withdrawal: Why Writing Helps You Heal
- My Kid's Friends Smoke Weed: A Parent's Guide
- MA vs SMART Recovery vs Therapy: Comparing Your Options
- Meditation and Mindfulness for Weed Withdrawal
- I Smoke Weed But Don't Want My Kids To: Navigating the Hypocrisy
- Your Partner Still Smokes Weed: How to Navigate It
- Quitting Weed While Your Partner Still Smokes
- The Pink Cloud Effect: When Quitting Weed Feels Too Good
- How to Quit Smoking Weed Cold Turkey: What to Expect
- Quit Weed or Cut Back: Which Is Right for You?
- I Quit Weed and Regret It: An Honest Look at Non-Linear Recovery
- Quitting Weed in Your 20s: Career, Social Life, Starting Over
- Quitting Weed in Your 30s: It's Not Too Late
- Quitting Weed After 10+ Years of Daily Use: What to Expect
- Quitting Weed During a Life Crisis: Divorce, Job Loss, and Other Bad Timing
- Quitting Weed and Working Out: How Exercise Helps Recovery
- Quitting Weed After Loss: When Grief Comes Flooding Back
- Quitting Weed When It's Legal Everywhere
- Quitting Weed as a Parent: Why It Is the Hardest and Most Important Quit
- Weed Withdrawal Success Stories: Real People Who Made It Through
- Quitting Weed as a Teen or Young Adult
- Quitting Weed Long Distance: When You Can't Remove Triggers
- I Relapsed on Weed. Now What? A Practical Reset Guide
- I Relapsed After Quitting Weed: What Now?
- Should I Quit Weed? A Decision Framework (Not a Lecture)
- Quitting Weed at Music Festivals and Concerts: A Sober Survival Guide
- Supplements That Actually Help with Weed Withdrawal (And Ones That Don't)
- My Kid Is Smoking Weed: A Parent's Guide
- How to Tell Your Friends You're Quitting Weed
- Relapse Prevention Plan for Cannabis: A CBT-Based Approach
- Why Weed Relapse Happens: The Science Behind Going Back
- Replacing the Ritual: What to Do When You Quit Weed
- How Cannabis Damaged My Relationships: Before and After
- Social Media Detox from Weed Content