Parents Sue After Infants Allegedly Exposed to Very High THC Levels Inside Central Texas Daycare

Parents file suit after children reportedly test positive for high THC in classroom

Several families in Central Texas have sued a local daycare, saying their infants were exposed to unusually high levels of THC while in the center’s care. The complaint, filed this week, says tests linked to the children and the classroom showed THC at levels the plaintiffs describe as far above routine positive cutoffs. Parents and their lawyers say the findings are alarming and that the daycare failed to protect the youngest children in its care.

What the families say happened and the evidence they cite

The lawsuit was brought by multiple parents, represented by a law firm acting on their behalf. In their filing, the families lay out a timeline of incidents, reporting that infants in a particular classroom began showing symptoms that prompted testing. The filing says lab tests — both on samples tied to children and on environmental swabs from the classroom — returned THC readings the plaintiffs characterize as roughly 132 times the usual positive threshold.

The complaint cites those test results as a central piece of evidence. It also includes reports of the infants’ symptoms after attending the daycare, statements from parents, and a description of how the children were cared for at the center. The families say those items together show a pattern of dangerous exposure rather than isolated, explainable events.

The lawsuit does not, in itself, prove wrongdoing. But it puts forward test data the plaintiffs say is concrete proof of significant contamination in the classroom and risk to the infants present there.

Why THC exposure at infant age is a health concern

THC is the main psychoactive part of cannabis. In adults it alters mood and cognition; in infants it can be far more dangerous. Very young children who inhale or ingest THC can become drowsy, have trouble breathing, be difficult to rouse, or show other signs of acute toxicity. Doctors also worry about the potential for longer-term effects on a developing brain, though the science on long-term chances is still evolving.

Laboratories use cutoffs to decide whether a sample is “positive” for THC. Saying a result is 132 times that cutoff means the measured level was much higher than the bare minimum the test flags as abnormal. Still, doctors and labs will often want to confirm initial screenings with more specific testing and to check the chain of custody — who handled samples and how — before drawing firm clinical conclusions.

Legal claims, possible liabilities and who might investigate

The families’ legal papers allege negligence and endangerment, arguing the daycare failed to keep a safe environment and allowed infants to be exposed to a potent substance. They seek damages and likely want the court to order steps to prevent future harm, such as stronger cleaning protocols or staffing changes. The complaint may also seek compensation for medical monitoring and any treatment the infants need now or in the future.

Regulators who could get involved include the Texas agency that oversees child-care licensing and state child welfare or public health authorities. If investigators find evidence of criminal conduct, local law enforcement could open a parallel inquiry into whether any laws were broken. The lawsuit itself is a civil route; regulatory action or a criminal probe would be separate but could affect the center’s license and operations.

Daycare response, community reaction and what to watch next

As of the filing, the families’ complaint is the primary public record of the allegations. The plaintiffs’ lawyers have presented test results as their main proof. The daycare named in the suit did not include a statement in the court filing; it may respond formally in court or issue public comments as the case progresses.

Local parents and community members are likely to press regulators for updates, and attorneys say the next steps will include formal discovery — where both sides exchange evidence — and possibly independent testing ordered by the court. Watch for any statements from state child-care licensing authorities, for follow-up medical reports about the children involved, and for a formal response from the daycare in court papers. Those developments will shape whether the case remains a civil dispute over damages or becomes a broader regulatory or criminal matter.

The suit raises sharp questions about daycare safety and how quickly concerns are reported and investigated when infants show signs of potential poisoning or exposure. For now, the legal process will determine how the evidence — including the unusually high THC readings — is weighed and what protections might be ordered for other children in the community.

Photo: Pixabay / Pexels

Sources

• prnewswire.com