A four-year-old child was hospitalized in the Canadian province of Quebec after becoming ill from eating Halloween chocolate allegedly containing cannabis.
The incident occurred in Drummondville, where the child’s family said he had eaten a KitKat chocolate bar from the collection of treats he had received while trick-or-treating on Halloween. The chocolate appeared to be properly sealed and looked like an ordinary, commercially packaged product.
According to the family, the child complained that the chocolate tasted unusual shortly after eating it. His condition then began to deteriorate, and he developed symptoms including unusual drowsiness and an elevated heart rate.
Concerned about his condition, the family immediately rushed him to hospital for medical attention.
The child’s stepmother, Rebecca Lefebvre, shared details of the incident on social media and urged parents in Drummondville, Saint-Germain and surrounding communities to carefully inspect all Halloween candy and chocolates collected by their children.
She warned that parents should not assume a product is safe simply because its packaging appears original and unopened. Even chocolate that looks completely sealed and authentic could potentially pose a danger.
Medical Tests Detect THC in Child’s System
According to the family, medical tests conducted on the child detected the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in cannabis.
However, available information does not confirm whether the chocolate itself underwent separate laboratory testing or establish the amount of cannabis it may have contained.
The family also remains uncertain about how the substance entered the chocolate or who may have distributed the contaminated product.
Quebec provincial police, known as the Sûreté du Québec, have launched an investigation into the incident. Investigators are examining the unusual circumstances surrounding the chocolate and attempting to identify its possible source.
Child Released from Hospital as Family Issues Warning
The family said the child has now returned home from hospital and is no longer in danger. Nevertheless, the incident has left relatives deeply shaken.
Following the experience, the family has decided that during future Halloween celebrations, they will no longer allow the child to consume treats collected from door-to-door trick-or-treating.
Instead, they plan to discard the collected candy and provide him with chocolates and sweets purchased directly by the family.
Health Officials Warn About Cannabis Products and Children
Health Canada warns that cannabis-infused edible products can be extremely dangerous for children.
Accidental consumption can cause serious symptoms, including excessive drowsiness, confusion, vomiting, loss of consciousness and difficulty breathing.
In severe cases, cannabis poisoning can become life-threatening, particularly for young children.
The Quebec incident highlights the importance of carefully checking Halloween treats and keeping cannabis products securely stored and completely out of children’s reach.
