More than 60 Jamaican primary school kids were hospitalised after eating potent rainbow-coloured cannabis candy, the Caribbean country's education minister said on social media platform X, causing them to vomit and hallucinate.
"I feel confident that together we will strengthen our safety and security regime to combat the unconscionable sale of marijuana infused products to children," Fayval Williams said on Tuesday, noting the "most unfortunate" circumstances under which she met parents and stakeholders of Ocho Rios Primary School.
Late on Monday, Williams had shared an image she said had been reported to her ministry showing a colorful packet of "full throttle rainbow sour belts," each containing 100 milligrams of THC - considered a strong dose for experienced adults.
"One little boy said he only had one sweetie," Williams said, adding several of the school children had been given intravenous drips to speed up recovery. "That's how potent this product is."
Jamaica decriminalized possession of up to 2 ounces (57 grams) of marijuana for religious, medicinal and scientific purposes in 2015, and set up a licensing agency for the country's legal medical cannabis industry.
Radio Jamaica reported that the Ganja Growers and Producers Association of Jamaica was suggesting a public education program for responsible consumption by adults and to prevent consumption by children, as well as pushing for more packaging regulations.
Latest Stories
-
Afua Asantewaa set to receive National Youth Shakers Conclave and Awards honour
9 minutes -
Parliament approves ¢1.2bn for Ministry of Energy and Green Transition
24 minutes -
Mahama appoints Abdallah Mashud as Technical Director of SSNIT
29 minutes -
Government commits to streamlining regulations for enhanced business growth
32 minutes -
Unknown assailants severely attacked herdsman in Central Tongu
44 minutes -
3 accused in illegal mining case appear in court
44 minutes -
Suspect remanded in domestic violence case
60 minutes -
‘You don’t need to be an economist to see E-Levy was poorly designed – Prof. Bokpin
2 hours -
‘E-Levy was emotionally driven, and the results are clear,’ says Prof. Bokpin
2 hours -
‘I don’t want to call it evil, but it was backward’ – Prof. Bokpin on scrapped E-Levy
3 hours -
Space scientists reveal shocking devastation of mining as 84,000 football fields of forests gone
3 hours -
Space science under siege: Encroachment threatens research as scientists battle mining devastation
3 hours -
Turkey’s opposition leader vows protests will continue ‘in every city’
3 hours -
Zimbabwe president fires army chief ahead of planned protests
3 hours -
Trump names conservative media critic as US ambassador to South Africa
4 hours