During a recent city council meeting, public health advocate Madison Rapp raised urgent concerns regarding the increasing availability of marijuana products and their impact on children and teens. Rapp, a mother of three, highlighted alarming trends observed by emergency room responders, noting a rise in cases involving marijuana edibles.

She explained that many young users, particularly preteens and teens, are unaware that the effects of marijuana edibles take longer to manifest compared to smoking. This misunderstanding can lead to overconsumption as they attempt to achieve a quicker high. Rapp also reported distressing incidents where infants and toddlers have fallen seriously ill after accidentally ingesting marijuana products, which are often packaged in colorful wrappers resembling candy, making them particularly appealing to children.

Additionally, Rapp pointed to the broader issue of youth vaping, referencing the recent FDA approval of non-tobacco flavored e-cigarette products, which has drawn criticism from pediatricians and anti-tobacco advocates. She emphasized that individuals who begin using marijuana before the age of 18 are significantly more likely to develop a marijuana use disorder later in life.

Rapp concluded her remarks by calling for increased measures to protect children from the easy access and exposure to marijuana in its various forms, urging the council to consider the implications of these products on public health.