ER Visits for Cannabis Intoxication Jumped After Michigan Legalized Recreational Use

What the researchers found

After Michigan legalized recreational cannabis in December 2018, cannabis-related ED visits increased significantly (unadjusted RR 1.70; age-adjusted RR 1.47). The increase was immediate.

Why it matters

The immediate 47% jump provides concrete evidence for health systems planning around legalization.

The numbers in context

2,177 ED visits from 2,066 patients; 671 pre-legalization, 1,506 post; unadjusted RR 1.70; age-adjusted RR 1.47; 8 hospitals

How the study worked

Retrospective observational cohort across 8 hospitals in southeast Michigan, 2016-2022, using ICD-10 codes and negative-binomial regression.

What this study cannot tell us

Single health system. Relied on ICD-10 codes. Pre-existing upward trend complicates attribution.

How to read the evidence

Multi-hospital retrospective study with appropriate modeling but limited to one health system.

When this study was published

Published in 2024 with data from 2016-2022.

The bigger picture

This adds to evidence that recreational legalization is associated with increased ED presentations.

Questions still open

• What product types drive ED visits?
• Do these visits result in significant interventions?

Common questions

Read the original research

The impact of recreational cannabis legalization on ED visit rates for acute cannabis intoxication.

The American journal of emergency medicine, 84, 124-129

Citation

Nguyen, An; Lee, Ray; Zhao, Lili; Qu, Lihua; Todd, Brett. (2024). The impact of recreational cannabis legalization on ED visit rates for acute cannabis intoxication.. The American journal of emergency medicine, 84, 124-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2024.07.041

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