An owner of an in-home daycare in Arkansas is facing charges following an incident where two children reportedly consumed marijuana gummies while under her supervision, as reported by multiple sources.
A 58-year-old woman named Tamantha McPherson is currently facing charges related to the welfare of minors and the introduction of a controlled substance into their bodies. This comes after parents of two children reported that their kids had marijuana in their system following visits to a daycare facility. The incident was reported by NBC affiliate KYTV and local outlet Ozark Radio News.
According to state court records, KYTV has reported that the parents of a two-year-old girl became concerned about their daughter’s behavior after picking her up from a Yellville daycare in April. Lab results from the hospital revealed the presence of marijuana in her system.
The parents stated that they did not have marijuana in their home. They also mentioned that the daycare owner administered medication to their daughter without their permission or parental consent.
Several days later, another set of parents alerted authorities about their 15-month-old son’s unusual behavior after picking him up from the daycare. According to the outlet, the parents were surprised when the blood test from a pediatrician revealed a positive result for marijuana, despite their claim of not having any in their home.
During an interview with authorities, as reported by various outlets, McPherson revealed that she kept her THC gummies in her kitchen area, which happened to be the same place where the approximately 8 daycare children were located. She also admitted to bringing the gummies from Missouri to Arkansas.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Sunday, Aug. 25. It remains uncertain whether McPherson has obtained legal representation to provide a comment on her behalf.
In July, the Food and Drug Administration announced its efforts to address the issue of products containing delta-8 THC that closely resembled snacks often targeted towards children.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the FDA highlighted concerns about the packaging of certain edible cannabis products. The FTC emphasized that the companies selling legitimate food products have no association with these misleading look-alikes.
“Companies that market and sell edible THC products that are easily mistaken for snacks and candy are not only acting illegally, but they are also putting the health of young children at risk,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. “Those that prioritize profits in front of children’s safety are at serious risk of legal action.”
In October 2023, there was an incident at a Boys & Girls Club in Lauderhill, Florida where six children were hospitalized after consuming candy that was suspected to be cannabis-infused. There have been recent incidents involving children consuming edibles in California and Memphis.
