Sharp Rise in Marijuana Poisoning Cases Among Children in the US
A new study published in the journal Clinical Toxicology analyzed records of nearly 339,000 reported cases of poisonings related to cannabis. The study found that from 2000 to 2020, the number of reported cases involving intentional marijuana use among people aged 6 to 18 increased by 245%, or about two and a half times. Most of these cases involved boys (53.8%), and over 80% of the affected minors were teenagers between 13 and 18 years old. About 32% of poisoning cases among minors were classified as having outcomes “worse than minor.”
While the number of medical visits related to cannabis use had previously remained relatively stable, it began to rise steadily starting in 2011, with a particularly sharp increase from 2017 to 2020. At the same time, the number of children experiencing alcohol poisoning dropped significantly. The turning point came in 2014, when the number of drug-related cases surpassed those related to alcohol poisoning.
Experts analyzing the data link the rise in marijuana use to the growing popularity of cannabis-infused edibles, which are now widely available across the country.
“Every year from 2000 to 2013, the number of ethanol abuse cases exceeded the number of marijuana use cases,” said Dr. Adrienne Hughes, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Oregon Health & Science University and one of the study’s authors. She also noted that by 2014, this trend had reversed: “Since 2014, the number of marijuana exposure cases has exceeded the number of ethanol use cases each year, and the gap continues to grow.”
While all forms of marijuana use increased, edible products and vaping products showed the highest average monthly growth compared to other forms, suggesting that teens are shifting from smoking marijuana to alternative consumption methods.
The study’s authors believe the rise in these categories among teens is due to appealing advertising, lower visibility, and ease of use. Many affected teens also consider these products less harmful than traditional smoking, which is not the case.
While traditional cannabis consumption can cause immediate poisoning, similar to tobacco, edibles may take hours to take effect. This delay can lead to overconsumption and unpredictable consequences.
“Compared to smoking marijuana, which usually leads to immediate intoxication, intoxication from edible forms of marijuana typically takes several hours. This can cause some people to consume more and experience unexpected and unpredictable highs,” Hughes explained.
The sharp increase in cannabis use among children since 2017 coincides with a wave of decriminalization in the US. As of 2022, cannabis is legal for recreational use by adults in 19 states and for medical use in 36 states.
Although cannabis is only legal for adults, the study’s authors argue that legalization has made cannabis more accessible to children and teens, and has also influenced the perception of the product as completely safe.