Hospital workers in North Carolina had to be treated at the emergency room after eating baked goods that were laced with marijuana.
Hospital Employee Brought Baked Goods Containing Cannabis Oil
The six employees of Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville reportedly ate cookies and muffins that contained cannabis oil. The Statesville Police Department said that an employee at the medical center brought the baked goods to work on the evening of Sunday, April 2.
THC
The unnamed employee, who was lucky not to face charges, told police he was not aware that the sweets contained THC oil. The chemical compound, which stands for delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol and is present in cannabis, is responsible for most of the characteristic psychoactive effects of pot.
"The higher the THC content, the stronger the effects on the brain," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. "Newly popular methods of using marijuana (e.g., dabbing, edibles) may deliver very high levels of THC to the user."
Baked Goods Not Intended For Hospital Staff Who Ate Them
Investigations later revealed that one of the worker's family members made the sweets using cannabis-infused oil but these were not intended for the hospital staff. Investigators said that a family member of the worker baked the cookies and muffins and left them in the kitchen.
No Charges Were Filed
The office of the district attorney decided not to file charges against the hospital worker who brought the baked goods. No charges were either filed against the family member because the person did not possess any drug when questioned. Police officers said this would make it difficult to prove a criminal charge in court.
Medical And Recreational Marijuana Still Illegal In North Carolina
Many states across the United States have already approved the sale and use of cannabis. However, marijuana remains illegal for recreational and medical purposes in several states including North Carolina, albeit the use of low-THC CBD oil may be allowed for certain conditions.
A medical marijuana bill was introduced in North Carolina in May 2014 but the House Committee killed this in 2015 and issued an unfavorable report that prevents the House from considering bills involving medical marijuana for the next two years.
The state, however, has partially decriminalized possession of pot, which means possession of no more than a half-ounce of pot is considered a criminal misdemeanor but does not carry the threat of jail time.
Patient Care Not Impacted By Incident
Despite the incident, hospital spokeswoman Janie Stikeleather said that patient care was not affected at the medical center.
"We are committed to providing patients with safe care and we appreciate the timely action of our director to manage the situation," Stikeleather said.
Gummy Bears Laced With Marijuana
There have been several cases in the past when individuals became ill and were brought to the hospital after ingesting products that are laced with pot.
In December last year, 12 high school students suffered from unpleasant symptoms after consuming gummy bears that were brought by their fellow student to school. A doctor later revealed that the candy was laced with marijuana oil.
