People can’t buy candy in these vending machines.
The Anne Arundel County Health Department is trying to keep marijuana and other cannabis products out of the hands of children by offering free safe-storage bags in vending machines.
“We’ve been excited to see different things that we can put in the machines,” Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Tonii Gedin told WBAL-TV 11 News. “We’ve seen younger children who are accidentally ingesting these things, thinking it’s some sort of food or candy. And, we’ve also seen an uptick in teenagers who are taking it but not really understanding the power of edibles.”
The county has 13 “Health-to-Go” vending machines that contain naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and now, cannabis storage bags that encourage people to lock up their marijuana supply and other cannabis products.
“It has everything you need to get started. (There is a) nice steel lock on the outside. It comes with a zipper,” said Theron Abell, an overdose education coordinator in Anne Arundel County.
Money for the lock bags comes from county and state cannabis funds, and the health department is working with public and private partners for distribution.
“They are in public locations like libraries, community centers. And, since then, about 25% of what we give out is through the dispensaries and community events. But 75% is going out through our vending machines,” said Tracy Schulden, the deputy director of behavioral health for Anne Arundel County.
Since recreational marijuana became legal in Maryland in 2023, Anne Arundel County has seen an increase in cannabis-related hospital visits for children and adults — it’s one of the reasons why county officials believe education and safe storage are so important.
“Why not lock up cannabis? What’s the harm? In locking it up, there is no harm, and even if you think your kid doesn’t know what it is, (it is) better safe than sorry,” Gedin said.
The storage bags and everything else in the vending machines are free. People don’t have to be Anne Arundel County residents to get one. For more information, visit the following website.
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