Two Young Brothers Hospitalized in Jerusalem After Eating THC-Infused Candies

A three- and five-year-old were treated for cannabis poisoning at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, a case doctors called rare given the dose involved, according to the Jerusalem Post.

FILE — edibles · Mx. Granger / CC0

Two brothers, ages three and five, were hospitalized at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem after eating cannabis candies containing THC and CBD, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The children were brought to the hospital's pediatric emergency department showing dizziness, confusion, blurred vision and difficulty walking, the Post reported. Medical and nursing staff determined the symptoms stemmed from poisoning after consuming the candies.

What the Family Told Doctors

Dr. Mohammed Hamed, a resident in the pediatric department, said that after speaking with the family it became clear each child had eaten two candies, and that the packaging listed 20 mg of THC and 10 mg of CBD per candy, according to the Post.

Dr. Amir Fischer, a senior physician in the pediatric emergency department led by Dr. Giora Weiser, said the children suffered severe poisoning from the exposure, adding that the effect was more pronounced in the three-year-old "who weighs less," as quoted by the Post.

Treatment and Outcome

Fischer told the Post that poisoning of this kind typically affects the central nervous system, causing blurred awareness, unsteady walking and altered heart rate, with rarer but more serious effects including seizures, respiratory depression or coma. He said there is no antidote and treatment is largely supportive.

According to Fischer, the brothers arrived at an early stage and without severe symptoms, and he said their lives could have been endangered had they eaten additional candies, per the Post's report.

The children were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, headed by Dr. Jacques Braun, for monitoring. The Post reported they were discharged in good condition after roughly 24 hours with no worsening of symptoms.

Hospital Staff Urge Caution

Talia Chernosvitov, deputy head nurse in the pediatric emergency department, told the Post that the hospital occasionally treats poisoning cases from various sources, but that exposure to this dose of psychoactive substances is relatively rare. She said parents should be aware that children may not distinguish ordinary candy from a potentially life-threatening product and urged keeping such items out of reach.

Nurse Sarah Hefter, who was involved in the children's initial care, ensured the boys were monitored and received immediate treatment upon arrival, according to the Post's account.

Unanswered Questions

The Jerusalem Post's report does not specify where the candies were obtained or whether the product came from a licensed medical cannabis source or an unregulated one. The manufacturer is not named in the available reporting, and it remains unclear whether the packaging cited by Dr. Hamed included any child-safety features.

What to Watch

The available reporting does not indicate whether Israeli health authorities or regulators have responded to this specific incident or whether any policy changes are under consideration as a result. Any regulatory or enforcement follow-up to this case has not been confirmed in the source material and would need independent verification.