Four children were taken to hospital after eating sweets they believed contained cannabis, Surrey police have said. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon on Pound Lane in Epsom, where the youngsters were found vomiting uncontrollably and falling in and out of consciousness.
The children, a 12-year-old girl, two 12-year-old boys, and a 13-year-old boy, were treated by the South East Coast ambulance service. One boy was discharged on Saturday night, while the other three were expected to leave hospital on Sunday. Police said they are not believed to have suffered long-term effects.
Detective Sergeant Lisa Betchley praised the quick actions of two medical students who were nearby and assisted in the early stages, along with ambulance and hospital staff. “These children were incredibly lucky that they were not more seriously affected,” she said.
Police are investigating where the sweets came from, with reports that they may have been supplied at the nearby Court recreation ground. A similar incident on Friday night involved “jelly apple rings” that look like green jelly circles. Parents in Epsom are urged to speak to their children about the dangers of cannabis-based food products, known as “edibles”, which are illegal and unregulated in the UK.
