Over-the-counter marijuana-based, Kratom gummies can be a health risk for young people, expert says

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A day after parents were stunned when six students at Twin Lakes Academy Middle School became sick after eating a gummy substance, the Florida Poison Information Center (FPIC) said marijuana-based and Kratom gummies can pose a health risk for young people.

RELATED: 6 Twin Lakes students become sick after eating unknown gummy substance

Dr. Dawn Sollee of the FPIC said the most common forms of over-the-counter gummies are called Delta-8, Delta-10, and a product called Kratom.

“Most of the products that are available in a gas station or convenience store are not supposed to contain Delta-9 THC,” Sollee said. “Again some of these products have been contaminated when they’re tested for them.”

Delta-8 or Delta-10 gummies are technically legal and not the same as Delta-9, which is a form that can affect you like marijuana. She pointed out these others are not regulated and can make you sick, particularly young teens and children.

“[The gummies] could have what they say it has in it or whatever else they want to put in it because there’s no standardization,” Sollee said. “When testing has been done it doesn’t contain the milligrams or ingredients.”

It’s hard to say what was ingested by the students because there are so many kinds of gummies on the market. Sollee put delta gummies and normal-looking gummies next to each other and it was difficult to tell the difference between them.

Sollee also said since the gummies are not regulated, batches could have different ingredients and make you sick even if the product and packaging look the same.

FPIC recommended using lock bags or lock boxes that are similar to gun safes to lock your pills and any other sort of gummies in them so others don’t get access.