Arkansas Daycare Marijuana Incident – A troubling case has arisen in Arkansas, where the owner of an in-home daycare is facing charges after two children allegedly consumed marijuana gummies while under her care, according to multiple reports.
Tamantha McPherson, 58, has been charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and two counts of introducing a controlled substance into another person’s body. These charges are based on reports from parents of two different children, who claimed their kids tested positive for marijuana after attending the daycare, as reported by NBC affiliate KYTV and local outlet Ozark Radio News.
As outlined by KYTV, the parents of a two-year-old girl noticed unusual behavior in their daughter after picking her up from a Yellville daycare in April. Lab results from the hospital later confirmed that the child had marijuana in her system, raising concerns about the Arkansas Daycare Marijuana incident.
The parents, who stated there was no marijuana in their home, also mentioned that the daycare owner had not requested their permission to administer any medication to their daughter, according to the report.
A few days later, another set of parents informed authorities that their 15-month-old son was acting oddly after being picked up from the same daycare. A blood test revealed that the boy also had marijuana in his system. These parents similarly confirmed that no marijuana was present in their home, according to the report.
During an interview with authorities, McPherson reportedly admitted that she stored THC gummies in her kitchen area, where the daycare children, approximately eight in total, were often present. She also revealed that she brought the gummies to Arkansas from Missouri, which has contributed to the concerns surrounding the Arkansas Daycare Marijuana case.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has not yet responded to requests for further information as of Sunday, Aug. 25. It is still unclear whether McPherson has secured legal representation to comment on her behalf.
In July, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took action against products containing delta-8 THC that were packaged in a way that resembled popular children’s snacks.
At that time, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the FDA highlighted concerns about the packaging of some edible cannabis products, with the FTC clarifying that companies producing legitimate food products have no connection to these look-alikes.
Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, stated, “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. Those who prioritize profits over children’s safety are at serious risk of legal action.”
