SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — San Francisco health officials say preliminary tests confirm that gummy candies that sickened 19 people at a Quinceañera party on Saturday, most of them minors, contained THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
The ring-shaped, colorful candies contain THC, and tests on 12 hospitalized patients also showed the presence of the psychoactive substance, officials said Monday.
“Anyone who attended the Quinceañera and may have taken some of the gummy rings is urged to discard them immediately,” said Dr. Tomas Aragon, Health Officer for the City and County of San Francisco. “If they are sickened, they should report to the California Poison Control Center for advice. If they are feeling severely ill, they should call 911.”
The incident highlights the potential dangers of edible marijuana products, which can be very potent and difficult to control the dosage, according to Dr. Tomas Aragon, San Francisco’s health officer.
“A situation like this, where they were consumed by unsuspecting people, and many children, is greatly concerning,” Aragon said in a statement.
10 males and nine females were hospitalized as a result of the incident. Thirteen of those patients were 18 or younger, ranging in age from 6 to 18, and fire officials said Sunday that three minors including a 9-year-old boy were treated in intensive care units.
“This could have been a much worse situation than it was, and I’m glad that all the children that ingested the candy have recovered,” Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement. “This incident underscores concerns about edible marijuana and its availability to minors.”
The patients were released from the hospital on Monday. They suffered from symptoms consistent with the effects of edible cannabis including rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, dilated pupils, dizziness, light-headedness, nausea, lethargy, and confusion.
According to San Francisco Fire Department, crews were dispatched to the Women’s Building in the Mission District of San Francisco around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.
One victim was as young as 6 years old.
“If these candies are confirmed as edible marijuana, then this event is a strong warning about the dangers of edibles, which can be very potent and hard to control dosage in the best circumstances,” Aragon said. “A situation like this, where they were consumed by unsuspecting people, and many children, is greatly concerning.”
The party was catered by a company based in Oakland, and the Alameda County Department of Public Health is also investigating.
“The question remains, where did the candies come from?” said Dr. Tomas Aragon, San Francisco’s health officer. “We are working with the catering company and our colleagues in Alameda to find out.”
The health department is also contacting those who attended the party to tell them to discard any uneaten candies they may have taken from there.
Anyone who gets sick as a result of eating one should call the California Poison Control Center for advice at (800) 222-1222, or 911 if they are severely ill.