Sharp Rise In Kids Accidentally Eating Edibles Amid Legalization—Including Nearly A Quarter Hospitalized For Cannabis Poisoning

Topline

The number of young children unwittingly eating cannabis edibles jumped 14-fold in five years, according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Pediatrics, a growing concern as more states legalize recreational marijuana and as edible, pot-laced products resembling child-friendly treats grow in popularity.

Reports of cannabis poisonings in young children have risen sharply in recent years, according to a … [+] new study.

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Key Facts

There were more than 3,054 calls to poison control centers about cannabis exposure in kids under the age of 6 after inadvertently consuming an edible in 2021, according to an analysis of data from the National Poison Data System.

That’s up from just 207 reports in 2017, an increase of 1,375%.

There were more than 7,000 confirmed exposures in young kids between 2017 and 2021—there were no deaths but nearly a quarter of the children were hospitalized—and more than half of cases were among two- and three-year olds.

Cases climbed consistently throughout the five-year period, researchers said, though both reports of exposure and hospitalizations spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic years.

The researchers said the precise reasons for this increase are not known, but pointed to increasing legalization of marijuana, children spending more time at home and having more opportunities to find cannabis-infused treats and clinicians having more experience treating cases as possible explanations.

The researchers said their findings underscore the need for more stringent regulation over the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol—or THC, the main psychoactive component in marijuana—allowed in edibles and making edibles less appealing and accessible to children.

Key Background

Cannabis exposure can be very serious for young children. The rising number of poisonings in recent years reflects the increasing legalization of recreational cannabis. Cannabis poisonings mark a very small but fast-growing subset of poison exposures reported among young children, a situation that is mirrored in neighboring Canada, which has also seen poisoning cases among kids spike following legalization. The popularity of THC-containing edibles has soared following legalization efforts and regulators have failed to match pace. Products—frequently in the form of candy or cookies—are often packaged in ways that are highly appealing to young children and many bear striking resemblance to popular snacks and there is no unifying regime governing the treats’ appearance, content or packaging.

Tangent

The effects of cannabis poisoning can be unpredictable and symptoms can include difficulty breathing, sleepiness, dizziness and trouble walking. The risk of poisoning is greater with edibles as it can take longer to feel the effects of the drug—meaning people may eat far more than they expected—and the uncertainty is magnified by variations in THC strength, other food eaten, other medications taken and differences in weight for children compared to the product’s intended audience. More than 90% of children in reports found the edibles they consumed at home, the researchers said. Almost all exposures—nearly 98%—happened in a residential setting.

What We Don’t Know

The true number of cannabis exposures in young children. The researchers said their analysis, which focused on incidents reported to poison control centers, was likely an underestimate of the actual number of exposures in this age group.

Big Number

21. That’s how many states across the U.S. have legalized recreational marijuana. Votes in Missouri and Maryland endorsed legalization in late 2022. Washington, D.C., and Guam have also legalized the drug. Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level.