Abstract
This study estimated the annual number of pediatric cannabis poisonings and examined characteristics of patients and cannabis products involved. We reviewed case narratives and analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) among children 0-11 years. Our analysis identified 370 cases of pediatric cannabis poisoning, with most (90.5%) occurring in children 4 years or younger. 78% of identified products were cannabis edibles, primarily gummies. 45% were examined/treated without admission, 45% admitted/hospitalized, 5% held for observation, and 5% treated/transferred. By applying sampling weights, we estimated 8,429 pediatric cannabis poisonings presenting to U.S. hospital emergency departments from 2018 to 2023, with significant increases (by 461%) over this period. Findings suggest a sharp rise in pediatric cannabis poisonings, likely linked to the expanded cannabis market and proliferation of cannabis products resembling popular children's snacks. Stricter laws/regulations and other preventive measures are needed to protect vulnerable populations from accidental cannabis ingestion.
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0003-4388-5251
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Rossheim, Matthew E.; Tillett, Kayla K.; LoParco, Cassidy R.; Livingston, Melvin D.; Soule, Eric K.; and Berg, Carla J.
(2025)
"Pediatric Cannabis Poisonings, United States Hospital Emergency Departments, 2018-2023,"
Health Behavior Research:
Vol. 8:
No.
3.
https://doi.org/10.4148/2572-1836.1301
