Day Care Facility Feeds Toddlers Spiked “Gold Fish Crackers”

Three children, all 1 year of age, were taken to a Virginia emergency room on March 2. Their families noticed a pronounced odd behavior. All of the children were exhibiting lethargic and uncoordinated behavior and glassy, bloodshot eyes.

After testing the children, the hospital confirmed that each child had been exposed to tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis.

The Stafford Sheriff’s Office released the following statement.

By Major Shawn Kimmitz

April 15, 2022
On March 2nd Deputy A.J. Deasy responded to Stafford Hospital Center for several toddlers with exposure to THC. Three children, all one year of age, were taken for treatment in the emergency room after their parents observed lethargic and uncoordinated behavior as well as glassy, bloodshot eyes.

Hospital staff quickly recognized the symptoms and testing confirmed each child had been exposed to THC. THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the high sensation. The connection between the three families was a licensed home day care provider in Windsor Forest subdivision.

Detective A. Sanchez conducted a search at the day care and collected gold fish crackers around the high chairs of the toddlers. These crackers were sent to the lab for testing and confirmed the presence of THC.

Child Protective Services was notified and became involved in the case. The day care subsequently voluntarily surrendered their license. As a result of the investigation, Rebecca Swanner, 60, the day care owner, has been charged with 3 counts of cruelty and injury to children. She self-surrendered on April 14th and was released by the magistrate on a $2,000 unsecured bond.

It is unclear if the daycare owner knew that the goldfish crackers had THC before feeding them to the children.

A quick search online reveals that the crackers are easy to buy. They supposedly have a strong marijuana aroma.

One website advertises the goldfish cracker.

(This purposely unnamed store) now offers Goldfish infused with 350 mg of premium, solvent-free cannabis oil. These golden swimmers are a dangerous bunch. Why? Because they’re delicious. These hand-crafted treats aren’t redolent of marijuana, so be sure to keep an eye out on how many you’ve eaten! Before you know it, you’ll be a handful of Goldfish deep into the bag discussing with Jeff Goldblum the intricacies of living life as a fly. Potent, delicious, and Goldfish-shaped. THC at its finest.

The Hill reported that lawmakers are pushing to legalize marijuana before the August recess.

Schumer said the bill, dubbed the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, will remove “cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances and “help repair our criminal justice system, ensure restorative justice, protect public health, and implement responsible taxes and regulations,” among other measures.

The announcement comes after Schumer said weeks back that senators behind the effort aimed to bring a reform bill forward later this month.

“We hope to do that towards the end of April,” Schumer said then. He also noted at the time that he has been reaching out to “a few Republicans to see what they want.”

Many Republicans are opposed to legislation legalizing marijuana, posing one of the biggest hurdles to Schumer getting such a measure through the 50-50 split Senate. To secure passage, Democrats would need the support of their entire caucus, and at least 10 Republicans to bypass a likely filibuster.

And some Democrats have also expressed reservations about recreational marijuana, presenting additional challenges to the party notching the necessary 60 votes for approval in the upper chamber.

Wyden in a statement said it was important for text of the bill to be produced “well before the August recess to continue building momentum for cannabis reform.”