A Virginia woman was charged for the death of her son on Oct. 17, after the child allegedly ingested many cannabinoid gummies.
Dorothy Annette Clements, 30, was charged with murder and child neglect for the death of her 4-year-old son, according to a police press release. They were living in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
Her son died on May 8 after having a medical emergency two days earlier at home.
Police said that a high level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was detected in the child’s body. THC is a component of cannabis and has psychoactive and intoxicating effects, according to the FDA.
Detectives believe that the child had ingested a large number of THC gummies. His death could have been preventable with medical intervention after the ingestion, according to the attending doctor.
Major Troy Skebo with the local Sheriff’s Office said to Fox News Digital that an ingredient of the gummies was delta-8 THC.
According to the FDA, delta-8 THC products should be kept out of the reach of children and pets. The agency states on its website that “there have been numerous poison control center alerts involving pediatric patients who were exposed to delta-8 THC-containing products.”
“The FDA is also concerned that delta-8 THC products likely expose consumers to much higher levels of the substance than are naturally occurring in hemp cannabis raw extracts,” according to the agency’s website.
What the mother said to the police was not consistent with evidence seized at her home, according to the police press release.
Clements was arrested and incarcerated under no bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on Oct. 20.
