STUDY: Most cannabis edible overdoses in Canada involve children

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Federal research shows 137 children have shown up at Canadian hospital emergency rooms for weed poisoning since Ottawa legalized cannabis edibles last October.

The Health Ministry research also says cannabis use among youth has increased overall, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.

This trend is a reversal of long-term downward use before the feds repealed a criminal ban on recreational pot in 2018.

“Significant changes in the risk perception of this substance were also noted … suggesting a decreasing trend in the viewing of cannabis as a harmful substance,” according to the study called Sentinel Surveillance Of Injuries And Poisonings Associated With Cannabis.

Only 9% of high schoolers said marijuana was harmless.

“Such perception changes among this population are of concern,” said the study.

Subsequently, the researchers found cannabis is now the leading substance-related reason for emergency room visits by Canadians as young as 10.

“Of 23,589 hospitalizations for harm caused by substance abuse among youth aged 10 to 24 years in 2017 to 2018, those related to cannabis were more common than those caused by any other substance including alcohol, opioids and cocaine,” said the study.

Researchers, who drew their findings from case reports at 19 Canadian hospitals, said most accidental poisonings from cannabis edibles involved children.

“Among children under the age of 10 years there were 25 cases, all of which were unintentional in nature,” said the study. “These edible products were either mistakenly left within the reach of children or unintentionally given to them.”

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