Department of Pediatrics

Jill Rinehart, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics

(JANUARY 4, 2023) Pediatrician Jill Rinehart, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics, commented to NBC5 on a Northern New England Poison Control Center report of a 1500 percent increase in marijuana exposure—including edible consumption and secondhand smoking—in kids age 5 and under.

“All of the ingestions that I’ve seen personally have been gummies … there’s no way for a young toddler to identify that as anything other than something to eat,” she said, adding that common symptoms that a child may have consumed THC include difficulty breathing and an altered demeanor.

The Vermont Cannabis Control board says restrictions around certain packaging and advertising are already in place. As more retail cannabis shops open, however, the control board says its currently discussing further guidelines surrounding the presentation of edible THC products.