Unintentional Marijuana Ingestions by Young Children Is Associated with Legalization

A review of reports to poison control centers found a significant increase in unintentional pediatric marijuana ingestions that was temporally and geographically associated with legalization of marijuana.

Legalization of marijuana for both medical and recreational uses has expanded in the U.S. Recently, poison control centers have noted a spike in unintentional marijuana exposures in pediatric patients (NEJM JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Jul 25 2016; [e-pub] and JAMA Pediatr 2016; 170:e160971; J Emerg Med 2019; 56:398). Researchers reviewed isolated marijuana ingestions in children aged 6 years or younger reported to the National Poison Data System between 2000 and 2017.

The annual number of ingestions was stable from 2000 to 2008 (averaging 0.32 per 100,000 population) and increased yearly thereafter, by an average of 27% per year (to 2.98 per 100,000 population in 2017). Of the 10 states with the highest rates of unintentional ingestions in 2016, …

Reviewing Author

Lauren M. Westafer, DO, MPH, MS

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsAnnals of Emergency Medicine

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAcademy for Academic Women in Emergency Medicine (Social Media Chair)

Lauren M. Westafer, DO, MPH, MS

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsAnnals of Emergency Medicine

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAcademy for Academic Women in Emergency Medicine (Social Media Chair)

Unintentional Marijuana Ingestions by Young Children Is Associated with Legalization

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Reviewing Author