Mouse “Rehab” Story Goes Viral After Rodent Nibbles Cannabis and Collapses

What Happened
A mouse was photographed nibbling cannabis leaves and stems, then later lying on its back among a heap of leaves, appearing completely incapacitated. The incident was reported by Colin Sullivan in New Brunswick, Canada, where recreational cannabis is legal.

Where and When

• Location: New Brunswick, Canada
• Timeframe: The mouse was reportedly caught stealing leaves two days in a row during the same week.

The Photo Sequence
The images described in the story show a clear progression:

1. The mouse takes leaves from the cannabis plant.
2. It chews both leaves and the plant stem.
3. Shortly after, it is seen motionless and “passed out” in a pile of leaves.
4. Later, the mouse appears awake again but bleary-eyed.

Colin’s Response: A Humorous “Intervention”
After noticing the repeated behavior, Colin decided to temporarily place the mouse in a cage to keep it away from the plants while it recovered. He framed the situation as a playful “rehab” storyline, including:

• A joking “12-step programme” to stop the mouse from returning to the cannabis plant
• A staged recovery plan where the mouse was “weaned” to one medium leaf per day
• A symbolic “12-step chip”, presented as a memento often associated with addiction recovery milestones

Updates Shared on Social Media
Colin posted a series of updates portraying the mouse’s condition and “progress,” including:

• The mouse being described as a “little pothead” repeatedly stealing leaves
• A tongue-in-cheek suggestion it might be self-medicating, though this was clearly framed as a joke
• Follow-up posts claiming the mouse had endured “a belly ache” and “the munchies,” but would recover fully
• A final update announcing the mouse was ready to be released back outside after several days

Release Back Into the Wild

• After six days, Colin reported that the mouse was released outdoors.
• The final post leaned heavily into puns and a redemption theme, presenting the release as the mouse’s fresh start.

Public Reaction
The social media posts gained major traction:

• Over 12,000 likes
• Thousands of comments, many describing the story as hilarious and uplifting

Key Cannabis Context Mentioned in the Article

• Recreational cannabis became legal under Canada’s federal framework on October 17, 2018.
• In New Brunswick, the minimum legal age for recreational cannabis activities (use, purchase, possession, cultivation) is 19.
• The article notes restrictions such as not consuming cannabis in public places or in motor vehicles.