A Central New York school district says some children got sick this week after eating a candy that may have contained a “substance.”
WBNG reports the Homer Central School District sent a message to parents Tuesday informing them about an incident involving what was described as a candy bar at the Homer Intermediate School. According to WXHC, a small group of kids took the candy bar from another student and ate it in the bathroom on Monday.
The students became sick after eating it and went to the nurse’s office. Parents were called, and their children were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
“While I have not officially been made aware of the contents of the candy bar, it is obvious to me that it contained some substance that caused some students to become sick to their stomach, vomit, and become lethargic,” Homer Central Schools Superintendent Tom Turck said in a statement. “Thankfully, all of them are fine and were released to go home last evening.”
Turck told WXHC that he could not confirm if the candy was a marijuana edible or some other “substance.” He also did not specify how many children were involved or what age they were.
“We are looking into the issue and will take appropriate action as it relates to disciplinary action after determining the facts,” he told the Cortland County radio station.
The message sent to parents encouraged them to talk to their children about being cautious with what they consume and about receiving food from other people.
The incident occurred on the same day that weed gummies sickened 11 children at a Long Island middle school. Similar incidents have been reported at other U.S. schools, including at a California elementary school in 2022 when third-graders consumed cannabis candy, thinking it was regular candy.
The Upstate New York Poison Center says nearly 200 children under the age of 6 ended up in emergency rooms over the past year after ingesting or being exposed to cannabis. The poison center said cannabis-related calls declined in 2024, but risks still exist from consumption of edibles such as gummies and snacks; some marijuana products look like candy and foods that can appeal to children.
All of the students were fine afterwards and released from a hospital. Read More
