California Third Graders Hospitalized After Consuming THC-Infused Edibles

The four students attended North Broadway Elementary School in Escondido

Four students at a California elementary school were hospitalized Wednesday after eating edibles, or food laced with THC. The students, who are all in third grade, attended North Broadway Elementary School in Escondido.

Emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the school, and the students were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Following the incident, the Escondido Union School District alerted the community about the risks of cannabis edibles.

In a statement, per NBC San Diego, the Escondido School District said, "The widespread availability and commercialization of THC-infused 'edibles' is a growing concern for school communities statewide, including ours."

School authorities across San Diego County say the cannabis edibles can be readily confused with ordinary snacks and candy. The district emphasized that edibles are prohibited at all school-related events and activities.

Related: Kids as Young as Kindergarteners Will Be Allowed to Use Cannabis at School if Michigan Passes New Law

Since the 2015 legalization of cannabis, Rady Children’s Hospital has seen a surge in children treated for ingestion, increasing from a few cases to hundreds annually. The hospital reports the average age of these patients is roughly 3.5 years, according to NBC San Diego. Overconsumption of cannabis in children can pose severe, potentially life-threatening effects.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“You take your average dose of an edible cannabis which might be somewhere between 5 and 10 to 20 milligrams for an adult — that dose can make a child critically ill,“ Dr. Natalie Laub, a pediatrician at Rady Children's Hospital, told NBC San Diego.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed Assembly Bill 1207, also called the Cannabis Candy Child Safety Act, which was co-authored by Dr. Laub based on her research. This legislation aimed to mandate alterations in the packaging of edible cannabis products to make them less appealing to children.

Related: 3 Toddlers Hospitalized After Eating THC-Laced Goldfish, Daycare Owner Arrested

Dr. Laub's concern stems from products resembling familiar snacks, like "Double Stuffed Stoneyos" and "Rice Krispyz". Dr. Laub commented, “These products mimic candy, cookies, and other snacks. The rate at which kids are consuming them is rising, and I fear it's going to become even more prevalent.”

The California Department of Health advises securely storing cannabis and its edible products out of children's and pets' reach.

Last week, six children were hospitalized after ingesting candy now believed to have been cannabis-infused at a Boys & Girls Club in Lauderhill, Florida, according to multiple reports. The Lauderhill Police Department was called to Boys & Girls Club three separate times after eight children consumed the candy, police said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

The remaining six were transported to the hospital in stable condition for further evaluation. They have since been released from the hospital, police said.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.