Medical marijuana is now legal in several U.S. states, including California. Like any other medication, marijuana can have side effects for some users. If a user is not warned by the manufacturer or distributor of those potential side effects and suffers negative consequences as a result, that could be the basis for a wrongful death lawsuit.
Medical Marijuana in California
In fact, the guardians of three children whose father is facing murder charges in the shooting death of his wife are suing a medical marijuana manufacturer and dispensary in Colorado for wrongful death. The guardians contend that the father experienced hallucinations and psychosis after taking marijuana-laced candies from the defendants which caused him to kill his wife.
The guardians are the children’s grandmother, her husband, and her sister. They say the packaging on the candy that the father took before killing his wife failed to warn him that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, can lead to “paranoia, psychosis, and hallucinations.”
Whether marijuana edibles actually carry a significant chance of causing these conditions is not totally clear. An ABC News legal analyst said the lack of research into the matter could leave dispensaries and manufacturers liable for incidents like this one.
Wrongful Death Litigation
Wrongful death litigation does several things. It can compensate survivors of the deceased for their lost financial, emotional, and parental support. It can also help families find out exactly what caused their loved one’s death. Finally, a wrongful death verdict can hold accountable parties that contributed to a person’s death but are not charged with a crime.
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