Less than half of cannabis-using households with children stored it locked and hidden
Among 401 adults surveyed in a California pediatric ER, 14.5% reported cannabis use in their home, but only 44.8% of home users kept cannabis both locked and hidden, and 45% received no storage information.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
14.5% reported cannabis use in their home in the prior six months. Only 44.8% of home users stored cannabis both locked and hidden. The most common storage advice source was friends/family (36.2%), and 45% received no storage information at all. Both users (79.1%) and non-users (73%) would feel comfortable receiving cannabis education from their primary care provider.
Key Numbers
401 surveyed (of 558 approached); 14.5% (58/401) reported home cannabis use; 44.8% (26/58) stored both locked and hidden; 36.2% got advice from friends/family; 45% received no storage information; 79.1% of users comfortable with provider education
How They Did This
Cross-sectional electronic survey of 401 adults in a California pediatric emergency department. Assessed cannabis use, storage practices, and attitudes toward storage education. Convenience sampling with descriptive statistics.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis legalization expands, pediatric ingestion risk increases. The finding that most families store cannabis inadequately and receive no professional guidance creates an actionable opportunity for healthcare providers.
The Bigger Picture
The mismatch between parents rating safe storage as highly important but not actually implementing it mirrors patterns seen with other household hazards (medications, firearms). The high comfort level with provider education suggests an intervention opportunity.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Convenience sample in one pediatric ER. Self-reported data may underestimate cannabis use and overstate safe storage. California may not represent states with different cannabis cultures. Cross-sectional snapshot.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would brief provider counseling about cannabis storage actually change behavior?
- ?Should child-resistant packaging standards be modeled on pharmaceutical requirements?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 45% of home cannabis users received zero storage safety information
- Evidence Grade:
- Convenience sample survey providing actionable descriptive data, though limited by single site and self-report.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis in Homes with Children: A Survey on Use, Storage, and Attitudes.
- Published In:
- The western journal of emergency medicine, 22(5), 1146-1149 (2021)
- Authors:
- Gimelli, Alex, Deshpande, Anusha, Magana, Julia N, Moulin, Aimee
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03155
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How should cannabis be stored in homes with children?
While California lacks specific storage requirements, best practice follows medication storage guidance: locked, hidden, and out of children's reach. Only 44.8% of cannabis-using households in this study met even the basic standard of locked and hidden.
Would parents accept storage education from doctors?
Yes. About 79% of cannabis users and 73% of non-users said they would feel comfortable receiving cannabis education from their primary care provider, suggesting strong receptivity to clinical guidance.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03155APA
Gimelli, Alex; Deshpande, Anusha; Magana, Julia N; Moulin, Aimee. (2021). Cannabis in Homes with Children: A Survey on Use, Storage, and Attitudes.. The western journal of emergency medicine, 22(5), 1146-1149. https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2021.5.49057
MLA
Gimelli, Alex, et al. "Cannabis in Homes with Children: A Survey on Use, Storage, and Attitudes.." The western journal of emergency medicine, 2021. https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2021.5.49057
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis in Homes with Children: A Survey on Use, Storage, a..." RTHC-03155. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/gimelli-2021-cannabis-in-homes-with
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.