Pubdate: Mon, 11 Mar 2002
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2002
Contact:  http://www2.odt.co.nz
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925

WARNING GIVEN AFTER CANNABIS POISONING CASES

Wellington: Five toddlers have been admitted to Wellington Hospital with 
cannabis poisoning in the past six years, prompting a warning for parents 
to lock away all hazardous substances.

Wellington School of Medicine senior paediatrics lecturer Thorsten Stanley 
said that though cannabis was not the most prevalent form of poisoning, he 
was concerned that it occurred at all.

Wellington was one of five North Island hospitals to participate in a study 
by Wanganui doctor John Goldsmith that showed 33 children under the age of 
21/2 had been admitted with cannabis poisoning.

Dr Goldsmith said in all cases the children had either eaten cannabis oil 
from capsules they found lying around, or had cannabis identified in their 
urine tests. He feared this number was just the tip of the iceberg.

Dr Stanley said far more than five toddlers could have been admitted to 
Wellington Hospital with cannabis poisoning, but many patients would not 
have been tested for cannabis. - NZPA
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