The Haribo candies in which cannabis was found are not relatively safe cannabis gummies that you buy in a coffee shop. Finding THC in food is also not something that happens more often. It is very strange and also dangerous, says addiction expertise center Jellinek.
We mainly know the cannabis plant for its psychoactive effect: it makes you high or stoned. The plant contains various active substances. The best known of these are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
THC is the substance that makes you feel high or stoned, says the Trimbos Institute. It changes your perception, mood and consciousness.
People who want to experience that effect smoke cannabis in a joint with tobacco, in a pipe or vape. But you can also eat it. Then an extract is made of THC from the plant, which is added to liquid or butter.
A product is made from that, says Tom Bart, prevention expert at Jellinek, to NU.nl. These are, for example, space cakes, brownies or gummies with cannabis.
“This production of THC-containing foods is illegal. They may be sold through a tolerance construction via coffee shops,” Bart explains. “But that these resources end up in a Haribo factory is very surprising. These are two separate markets. It is of course speculation, but it seems like a set-up.” The police also think so, who are now investigating.
Panic and anxiety in children
What happens if you accidentally eat such a Haribo candy with cannabis, or a few handfuls? That cannot be said based on the information we have now. We do not know what concentration of THC has been added to the candies, nor who ate them and how much.
“It is serious anyway if you use this substance without knowing it,” says Bart. “You feel very strange and don’t understand why. That can have traumatic consequences. If the concentration of THC is high – and a few milligrams can already have a severe effect for an adult, experienced user – that can come in very intensely.”
Edible cannabis products, such as gummies, are made with a concentrate. There is quickly a lot of active substance in it.
If you are not used to cannabis, you can become dizzy or go out, according to Bart. It can also cause a drop in blood pressure and – possibly a lot – panic and anxiety.
“Children have a lower weight, they are more sensitive to substances they do not know,” says the prevention expert. “It can be an intense experience that makes you very sick. They can experience panic and get hallucinations, a trip effect that they do not know at all.”
You can feel that fear and panic internally, for example through nasty thought loops. But it can also manifest itself through screaming and open blind panic.
Cannabis is not poison
Cannabis does not poison you like alcohol does, says Bart. “You can get sick from it, but you don’t get into a coma and in principle you don’t die from it if you don’t have underlying conditions. What you can suffer from the most is the traumatic experience from the fear and panic.”
Cannabis is not toxic, says the Trimbos Institute, but it can have direct effects on the body. For example, your heart can beat faster, your blood pressure can drop and you can think or move less well.
At a high dose you can also feel nauseous, become anxious or confused. The more THC it contains, the stronger the effects are.
Healthy young people usually have no problems with this. But for people with heart problems or mental problems it can be dangerous. There seems to be a link between developing a psychosis and cannabis use.
‘Remember that cannabis use quickly becomes problematic’
People who are looking for the effects of THC and have experience with it can prepare their ‘trip’. You can do that by making sure you feel good, in a safe place, with the right people.
Bart: “But if you are just eating some sweets and have no idea that you are using THC, the effect is very different. With children that is very unpredictable. Their brain is still developing, they have no tolerance for this substance. It can be really unpleasant.”
Are you looking for this experience? Remember that it can trigger psychological complaints, that it can inhibit your development and can be addictive, says Bart. “Cannabis is a substance with risks, and can become problematic.”
What happened?
Several people became ill this week because they ate Haribo sweets. Cannabis was found in the candies. It concerns children and adults who became ill after eating cola bottles, reports the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
It is not known how many people are involved. Several people have reported to the police.
Research shows that there was cannabis in the candies. According to the NVWA, it is not known how the cannabis ended up in the candies. The police are investigating. It is not clear in how many candy bags there is cannabis.