Audio By Carbonatix
More than 60 Jamaican primary school kids were hospitalised after eating potent rainbow-coloured cannabis candy, the Caribbean country's education minister said on social media platform X, causing them to vomit and hallucinate.
"I feel confident that together we will strengthen our safety and security regime to combat the unconscionable sale of marijuana infused products to children," Fayval Williams said on Tuesday, noting the "most unfortunate" circumstances under which she met parents and stakeholders of Ocho Rios Primary School.
Late on Monday, Williams had shared an image she said had been reported to her ministry showing a colorful packet of "full throttle rainbow sour belts," each containing 100 milligrams of THC - considered a strong dose for experienced adults.
"One little boy said he only had one sweetie," Williams said, adding several of the school children had been given intravenous drips to speed up recovery. "That's how potent this product is."
Jamaica decriminalized possession of up to 2 ounces (57 grams) of marijuana for religious, medicinal and scientific purposes in 2015, and set up a licensing agency for the country's legal medical cannabis industry.
Radio Jamaica reported that the Ganja Growers and Producers Association of Jamaica was suggesting a public education program for responsible consumption by adults and to prevent consumption by children, as well as pushing for more packaging regulations.
Latest Stories
-
Failure is part of Success — Peter Debrah encourages resilience among Students
2 hours -
Is the IMF Complicit in Bank of Ghana’s Massive 2025 Losses? – IERPP
4 hours -
Scaling Together: Prudential Bank MD’s advice on fintech‑bank partnerships in Africa
4 hours -
Joe Mettle inspires hope with new song ‘This Year’
5 hours -
Antisemitism ‘allowed to come into the open’ says Bondi victim’s daughter
5 hours -
What Is Wrong with Us? Why do we Reject Colonialism yet Cling to its Titles?
5 hours -
World Bank pushes regional health strategy to close financing gaps in West and Central Africa
5 hours -
Britney Spears pleads guilty to reckless driving after arrest
6 hours -
Parentage, not paternity: Ghana’s proposed compulsory paternity testing bill sparks fears of discrimination against mothers
6 hours -
Samsung family pays off record $8bn inheritance tax bill
6 hours -
Spain seizes record amount of cocaine in Atlantic Ocean, authorities say
6 hours -
Two killed and many injured after car driven into crowd in German city of Leipzig
6 hours -
KiDi drops ‘Signature’ with Lasmid ahead of album release
6 hours -
UAE accuses Iran of renewed drone and missile attacks
6 hours -
Giuliani recovering from pneumonia and ‘now breathing on his own’
6 hours