CDC surveillance data showed cannabis-related ED visits among young people under 25 were higher in 2020, 2021, and 2022 compared to 2019, with the largest increases among children aged 10 and under and a notable rise among adolescent females.
Pediatricians, emergency physicians, public health officials, cannabis policy makers, parents.
Largest cannabis ED visit increases were among children aged 10 and under
What the researchers found
Mean weekly cannabis-involved ED visits among all youth under 25 were higher during 2020, 2021, and 2022 compared to 2019. The largest increases were among children aged 10 and under. Among adolescents aged 11-14, female ED visit rates surpassed male rates starting in late 2020, a pattern not seen pre-pandemic.
Why it matters
The surge in cannabis ED visits among very young children (under 10) points to accidental ingestion of cannabis edibles, a growing problem as legal cannabis products become more prevalent in homes. The gender shift among adolescents raises questions about changing patterns of use.
The numbers in context
Cannabis ED visits higher in 2020, 2021, and 2022 vs. 2019 across all youth under 25. Largest increases in children aged 10 and under. Female rates exceeded male rates among 11-14 year olds starting late 2020.
How the study worked
CDC analysis of National Syndromic Surveillance Program data examining cannabis-involved ED visits (documented in chief complaint or discharge diagnosis) among persons under 25 during 2019-2022.
What this study cannot tell us
Syndromic surveillance data depend on documentation quality. Cannot determine intentional vs. accidental exposure in young children. COVID-19 pandemic may have changed ED-seeking behavior. Cannot attribute trends to any single cause (legalization, pandemic stress, product availability).
How to read the evidence
National syndromic surveillance data from CDC covering millions of ED visits, providing strong population-level evidence.
When this study was published
Published in 2023 using data from 2019-2022.
The bigger picture
As cannabis legalization expands, the home storage problem becomes more acute. Edibles that look like candy or gummies pose particular risks for young children. The pandemic may have amplified exposure by keeping children at home with increased proximity to adult cannabis products.
Questions still open
- Are child-resistant packaging requirements keeping pace with cannabis edible design?
- What drove the shift to higher ED visit rates among adolescent females during the pandemic?
Common questions
Did cannabis emergencies increase among children during COVID?
Are girls using more cannabis than boys?
Read the original research
Cannabis-Involved Emergency Department Visits Among Persons Aged <25 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, 2019-2022.
MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 72(28), 758-765
Citation
Roehler, Douglas R; Smith, Herschel; Radhakrishnan, Lakshmi; Holland, Kristin M; Gates, Abigail L; Vivolo-Kantor, Alana M; Hoots, Brooke E. (2023). Cannabis-Involved Emergency Department Visits Among Persons Aged <25 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, 2019-2022.. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 72(28), 758-765. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7228a1
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