Women over 50 make up most cannabis poison control calls, often from therapeutic errors with non-plant products
Among 3,633 cannabis-related poison control cases in adults over 50, women comprised 57.4% and were nearly twice as likely as men to call about therapeutic errors or adverse reactions rather than intentional misuse.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Women over 50 had 1.93 times greater odds of calling about therapeutic errors/adverse reactions compared to intentional misuse. They were more likely to be using non-plant cannabis forms (edibles, oils). Older age and living in legal-cannabis states were associated with non-plant product use. Sex was not associated with severity of medical outcomes.
Key Numbers
3,633 cases age 50+; 57.4% female; women had 1.20x odds of non-plant forms; 1.93x odds of therapeutic errors vs misuse; older age and legal states associated with non-plant products
How They Did This
Analysis of 3,633 cases of adults aged 50+ from the National Poison Data System (2009-2019) where plant or non-synthetic cannabis was the primary substance, using logistic and multinomial regression.
Why This Research Matters
Older women are increasingly using cannabis products for medical purposes but appear to be experiencing more therapeutic errors, suggesting a need for better dosing guidance and education for this growing demographic.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis becomes legal and more older adults use it medically, the pattern of women experiencing therapeutic errors with edibles and other non-plant products highlights a specific education and packaging gap.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Poison control data captures only reported cases, likely underestimating true adverse events. Self-reported exposure details. Cannot determine population-based rates.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are edible products adequately labeled for older adult users?
- ?Do women metabolize cannabis differently, leading to more adverse effects?
- ?Would pharmacist consultation reduce therapeutic errors?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Women over 50 were 1.93x more likely to report therapeutic errors than intentional misuse
- Evidence Grade:
- Large national poison control database analysis over 11 years with robust statistical methods
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021 using 2009-2019 data. Cannabis use among older adults continues to increase rapidly.
- Original Title:
- Sex differences in cannabis forms and exposure reasons in cannabis-related poison control center cases aged 50.
- Published In:
- Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 59(9), 822-831 (2021)
- Authors:
- Choi, Namkee G(10), DiNitto, Diana M(5), Marti, C Nathan(10), Baker, S David
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03061
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are older women at higher risk for cannabis adverse effects?
In poison control data, women over 50 comprised most cannabis calls and were nearly twice as likely to experience therapeutic errors rather than intentional misuse, often with edibles and non-plant products.
What types of cannabis products cause the most problems in older adults?
Non-plant forms (edibles, oils, capsules) were associated with older age and therapeutic errors. These products may be harder to dose accurately than plant forms.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03061APA
Choi, Namkee G; DiNitto, Diana M; Marti, C Nathan; Baker, S David. (2021). Sex differences in cannabis forms and exposure reasons in cannabis-related poison control center cases aged 50.. Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 59(9), 822-831. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2020.1869756
MLA
Choi, Namkee G, et al. "Sex differences in cannabis forms and exposure reasons in cannabis-related poison control center cases aged 50.." Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2020.1869756
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Sex differences in cannabis forms and exposure reasons in ca..." RTHC-03061. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/choi-2021-sex-differences-in-cannabis
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.