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The bottom line
Medical marijuana is sometimes prescribed for people with HIV/AIDS, seizure disorders, cancer, severe pain, and severe nausea. Medical marijuana is regulated as a Schedule III controlled substance as of April 2026. There are no regulations for child-safe storage of medical marijuana products; young children have been poisoned by swallowing medical marijuana.
Prevention tips
Become familiar with state and local laws regarding the possession, sale, or use of cannabis and its derivatives.
Keep all cannabis and cannabinoid products out of reach of children.
Avoid driving or operating machinery after using cannabis or cannabinoid products, especially when combined with alcohol or other drugs.
This really happened
A 3-year-old child in Colorado ate a cookie made with his grandfather's medical marijuana. He became very sleepy and was taken to an emergency room. Several blood tests and other medical procedures were performed; a urine test showed the presence of marijuana. The child was admitted to the intensive care unit for observation (from Wang et al., 2013).
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What is medical marijuana?
Medical marijuana is intended for use in response to medical conditions. Marijuana will not cure any disease, but it can improve a patient’s condition by easing some of the symptoms of their illness.
What is medical marijuana prescribed for?
Medical marijuana is prescribed for relief of the symptoms of a wide range of conditions. Examples include cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, seizure disorders, severe pain, severe nausea, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
There are several ways of taking prescribed medical marijuana:
As a pill or liquid.
By smoking marijuana plant material.
By heating plant material and inhaling the vapor.
By eating baked goods or drinking liquids that contain marijuana.
Where is medical marijuana legal?
The debate over whether medical marijuana should be legal is intense and continues to evolve. Until recently, marijuana was classified by the federal government as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, meaning that it was considered to be a drug with no current medical use and a high potential for abuse or addiction. This meant that it was illegal at the federal level. However, the federal government did not typically take legal action against users and suppliers of medical marijuana as long as they were following the laws of their own state.
As of April 2026, state-regulated medical cannabis and FDA-approved marijuana products are officially classified as Schedule III controlled substances under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Schedule III drugs can only be prescribed by healthcare providers who are authorized and registered with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). A valid prescription must include the provider’s DEA number and must be written for a legitimate medical reason. This change should make it easier for patients to obtain medical marijuana as well as make it easier for scientists to conduct research into the uses of medical marijuana.
At least 40 states have made medical marijuana legal for people with specific medical conditions. Patients become registered users and can legally obtain medical marijuana from dispensaries. In some states, patients are allowed to grow a certain amount of marijuana for their own use.
Is THC stronger in medical marijuana products?
Not necessarily. Medical marijuana is not inherently stronger than recreational marijuana, but in some states, medical cannabis products are allowed to contain higher levels of THC or have fewer potency limits than recreational products. In other cases, recreational products may be just as strong or even stronger. The potency depends more on the specific product and state regulations than on whether it is labeled “medical” or “recreational.”
Children and marijuana poisoning
Medical marijuana can be administered in cookies, brownies, soft drinks, and candy. Children can easily confuse these dosage forms with tasty snacks. These dosage forms do not have warning labels that would remind adults to keep these medicines out of the reach of children. Today, there are no regulations for safe storage of medical marijuana products, such as child-resistant packaging or warning labels.
Researchers in Colorado described a series of children seen in a children’s hospital emergency room after the legalization of marijuana. The children ranged in age from 8 months to 12 years. Most of the children ate medical marijuana cakes, cookies, or candies belonging to their grandparents, parents, babysitters, or friends of the family.
Symptoms of marijuana poisoning in children
By far, the most common symptom in children who eat medical marijuana is excessive sleepiness. Children have also shown dizziness and trouble walking. However, a few became too sleepy, and their breathing slowed down, requiring monitoring in a hospital.
What to do if a child ingests medical marijuana
If a child swallows a marijuana product—legal or illegal—use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
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