Marijuana Exposure Among Children Younger Than Six Years in the United States

Abstract

This study investigates marijuana exposures among children <6 years old in the United States using data from the National Poison Data System. From 2000 through 2013, there were 1969 marijuana exposures among children <6 years old and an exposure rate of 5.90 per million children. The mean age of an exposed child was 1.81 years (median = 1.58 years). The majority of the children were exposed through ingestion (75.0%), and 18.5% of exposures required admission to a health care facility. The rate of marijuana exposure was significantly (2.82 times) higher in states where its use was legalized prior to 2000 compared with states where its use is not legal. Because more states are likely to pass legislation legalizing medical and recreational use of marijuana, increased efforts to establish child-focused safety requirements regarding packaging of commercially sold marijuana products are needed to help prevent more children from being exposed to this schedule I substance.

Place over traits? Purchasing edibles from medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles, CA

“…2 Second, accidental ingestion by and poisonings of young children may occur because edibles often look like candy or baked goods. 5 These products are also attractive to adolescents as it makes it easier to conceal use. 6 Finally, unintentional driving while under the influence may result (given delayed effects observed for edibles).…”

Pediatric Concerns Due to Expanded Cannabis Use: Unintended Consequences of Legalization

“…From 2000 to 2006, there was no significant change (0.6 % per year; 95 % CI −2.0 to 3.3 %) in the annual rate of marijuana exposure per 1 million <6-year-old children [40]. However, the rate increased significantly by 147.5 % (15.0 % per year; 95 % CI = 12.2 to 17.8 %) from 2006 (4.21) to 2013 (10.42) [40]. The impact recreational/retail marijuana legalization has on unintentional exposures has yet to evaluated.…”

“…Concern exists that more severe effects and hospital admissions may be due to availability of higher concentration products where commercialization of marijuana has occurred. A similar study evaluating marijuana exposures in children less than 6 years of age from 2000 to 2013 found that the rate of marijuana exposure was significantly (2.82 times) higher in states where its use was legalized prior to 2000 compared with states where its use is not legal [40]. From 2000 to 2006, there was no significant change (0.6 % per year; 95 % CI −2.0 to 3.3 %) in the annual rate of marijuana exposure per 1 million <6-year-old children [40].…”

“…A similar study evaluating marijuana exposures in children less than 6 years of age from 2000 to 2013 found that the rate of marijuana exposure was significantly (2.82 times) higher in states where its use was legalized prior to 2000 compared with states where its use is not legal [40]. From 2000 to 2006, there was no significant change (0.6 % per year; 95 % CI −2.0 to 3.3 %) in the annual rate of marijuana exposure per 1 million <6-year-old children [40]. However, the rate increased significantly by 147.5 % (15.0 % per year; 95 % CI = 12.2 to 17.8 %) from 2006 (4.21) to 2013 (10.42) [40].…”

Feeding on fear: Edible marijuana and disproportionality in US media

“…In June 2015, findings of an academic study (Onders, Casavant, Spiller, Chounthirath, & Smith, 2015) reported on rates of paediatric (aged six and younger) marijuana exposures in the United States. In their findings, the study authors noted that the low rate (5.9 per every 1,000,000) indicates these exposures are ''rare'' and that between 2006 and 2013 the total numbers increased from roughly 100 to 250, yet headlines and articles reported these numbers in percentages: …”