The Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics opposes Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana for people 21 and older, arguing its passage would unintentionally expose more children to the drug .

The group of pediatricians was joined by Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo in urging voters to reject the measure on the Nov. 5 ballot.

“Why do they package it like gummy bears and lollipops and candy bars and Rice Krispie brownies?” asked Casey DeSantis during a news conference last week in Jacksonville. “It will get to where our children have access to it, they can consume it and it could potentially end their lives.”

The group supporting Amendment 3, the Smart & Safe Florida Policy Committee, counters that passing the amendment will help keep marijuana away from young people.

“Legalization of recreational marijuana use by adults makes it more difficult for youth to access marijuana and has led to a decline in adolescent marijuana use,” the group said in an email to WLRN . “Voting yes on Amendment 3 means adults in Florida have access to safe lab-tested marijuana, while restricting access to marijuana for youth.

Amendment 3, or the item “Adult Personal Use of Marijuana,” reads on the ballot:

“Allows adults 21 years of age or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana paraphernalia for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingesting, or otherwise; permits marijuana treatment centers medical and other state-licensed entities to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute these products and accessories.

FCAAP told WLRN in an emailed statement that “accidental marijuana ingestions and overdoses among children have skyrocketed in the seven years since medical marijuana was legalized.”

“Research has also shown that legalization creates a false perception that marijuana causes little or no harm, thus leading to an increase in its use among adults and adolescents,” says FCAAP.

Marijuana, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, is a psychoactive or psychoactive drug produced by the cannabis sativa plant.

In 2016, 71% of voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana. Since then, pediatric emergency room visits due to marijuana exposure in Florida have increased by 836%, from 2016 to 2023, according to Florida Ministry of Health.

“The parent, the family, the friends are not intentionally giving it to the child, but the child is finding things,” said Dr. Rana Alissa, a board-certified pediatrician and president of FCAAP. “They can be gummy bears, they can be brownies, they can be any shape or form that’s very attractive. So that’s another big risk for children.

Dr. Alissa spoke to WLRN about a scenario she’s familiar with: a child needing emergency medical attention after being unable to wake up. “You ask questions: ‘A disease or an illness?’ And everything is no. And then when you specifically ask, “Do any of you have marijuana in your purse or pocket?” ”, you will find someone who will answer yes. It’s not intentional. They don’t intentionally give it to the child, but the child finds things.

She says teens who intentionally ingest marijuana may face learning and socialization difficulties, as well as depression and anxiety.

LEARN MORE: With Amendment 3, will Florida follow other states in “righting the wrongs” of past drug policy?

“Safe and intelligent product”

Dr. David BergerA board-certified pediatrician who supports Amendment 3 says he sees more benefits than risks. He has certified children for medical cannabis in Florida and told WLRN he is pushing for Florida to have a consistently safe product.

He says alcohol and cigarettes are far more dangerous to children and adults than marijuana.

“It’s a question of parental responsibility, as is the case with alcohol. If you let it, you’re the one being irresponsible,” Berger said. “I have experience with parents and grandparents who use (marijuana) and live with children or grandchildren who visit them, and I have experience of children with serious and debilitating illnesses like seizures and autism accessing them. »

If Florida legalizes recreational marijuana, Berger says, it will be tested and not sold in colorful packaging or in shapes appealing to children. He believes this will help prevent exposure to street products and generate tax revenue for the state that can be used to educate children about marijuana.

According to the Smart and Safe Campaign, current medical marijuana laws in effect in Florida require manufacturers to limit the color and size of packaging, make all packaging child-resistant, and ensure that all products are created without graphics, images or neon colors that could make the product attractive. to children. “These are restrictions that are not required of the illicit market. We can ensure that these same restrictions apply to recreational marijuana only if it is purchased on the legal market.”

Anti-poison help

The Florida Poison Information Center in Miami reports that calls to poison centers regarding cannabis or related products increased from 549 in 2018 to 1,717 in 2023. Calls in 2024 are up 5.8% from last year. last year.

Most commonly, these calls involve edibles containing THC (a psychoactive component of cannabis), dried plants, and minor cannabinoids, which include hemp derivatives.

This year, of the 596 cases of ingestion of edible products, 200 involved children aged 5 and under, 82 involved children aged 6 to 12 and 133 involved adolescents.

Of the 259 cases involving minor cannabinoids, 68 involved children aged 5 and under, 36 involved children aged 6 to 12, and 48 involved adolescents.

“Poison centers now routinely treat very sick children who have eaten a parent or grandparent’s gummies,” center officials told WLRN. They said that “the packaging of these products tends to be colorful and very similar to gummy candy, so it’s easy to see why it might appeal to children.

The Poison Help Line is available toll-free, 24 hours a day, every day at 1-800-222-1222..