Cannabis candies brought to Windsor, Ont. school, Grade 8 student taken to hospital

A Windsor father said a Grade 8 student brought cannabis edibles that looked like candy into Hugh Beaton Elementary School on Tuesday, leading to several students consuming the product and at least one child becoming ill.

Images of numerous ambulances parked outside the school circulated on social media, drawing concern from parents and community members.

Jeff Fuchs told CTV News he received a text from his son around 11:10 a.m.

“He’s like, ‘Dad, I made a mistake. You have to come get me,’” Fuchs said.

“I told him, call me right now and he says, ‘Dad, I took something. I don’t feel good. Get to the school.’”

Fuchs said he rushed to the school and found his son unwell and visibly affected.

“My kid’s now throwing up,” he said.

“He was super out of it.”

Emergency crews were called to the school as a precaution.

Fuchs said four Grade 8 students were involved, but at first, parents and school staff did not know what substance had been consumed. That uncertainty, he said, was deeply unsettling.

“If that was your kid laying there puking, you’d want to know what he took,” he said.

He said he asked that students be searched to identify the substance but was told that was not immediately possible.

“The school says they have no authority to search the children,” Fuchs said.

“I couldn’t believe it.”

Under policy at the Greater Essex County District School Board, student searches may only be conducted by a principal or designate when there are reasonable grounds to believe a school rule or board policy has been breached and must be carried out in a manner that respects student privacy.

Cannabis edibles later confirmed

Fuchs said police later confirmed the substance was cannabis edibles and that one student admitted to bringing gummies with a high THC content into the school. He alleged the product was obtained through social media.

“It was a big package,” Fuchs said.

“If one of those got dropped in the hallway and a kindergarten kid ate it — that’s scary.”

Fuchs said his son was taken to hospital, where he vomited and remained disoriented for several hours.

“He’s just dazed and confused right now,” he said.

“He was supposed to have basketball practice tonight.”

School board response

A spokesperson for the Greater Essex County District School Board said only that the situation was addressed at the school level, declining to provide further details.

“This incident has been addressed between the principal and the families involved,” the spokesperson said.

“As it pertains to students, and our highest priority is maintaining their privacy and safety, we will not provide further comment.”

Health risks for children

The Ontario Poison Centre said cannabis edibles can pose greater risks for children than adults, particularly products that resemble candy.

According to the centre, vomiting and confusion are common symptoms in children after cannabis ingestion. Edibles are absorbed unpredictably, and a smaller body size means children receive a higher dose of THC relative to body weight. The Poison Centre also noted children’s brains are still developing, which can intensify the effects of THC.

Fuchs said his son has been asked to stay home while the school continues to investigate. He hopes the incident serves as a reminder for parents to be aware of what their children may be exposed to.

“These things look like candy,” he said.

“Kids don’t know the difference.”