-
May 17, 2025
Since 2022, the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) has conducted the annual Maryland Medical Cannabis Patient Survey to collect data on the adverse effects of using marijuana. According to the latest survey, over 4,400 respondents (a 3% increase from the previous year) met the criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD) – with more than half being women. The criteria for CUD includes the inability to cut down or control use despite the effects of the drug causing interpersonal, physical or psychological problems. Another major criteria is a significant amount of time spent in getting, using or recovering from cannabis – which usually results in failing to fulfill personal obligations. In some cases, marijuana use can lead to cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) – a condition marked by episodic vomiting and abdominal pain due to prolonged use of high doses. About 2% of those surveyed, reported that they had experienced the condition. Among that group, most were between the ages 26 to 35. Maryland is seeing an increase of overdose poisoning in children because of children getting a hold of the gummy looking cannabis medications. The MCA’s Maryland Cannabis Use Biannual Study, also released last month, showed the number of cannabis-related calls to poison control has decreased for the first time in seven years – with nearly 80 fewer calls last year than 2023. However, from 2023 to 2024, calls involving infants aged five and under increased by almost 35%. And while cannabis use among minors is down 0.6%, there is still concern of the drug’s effect on the developing brain of this vulnerable group. In its latest public meeting on April 16, the Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council discussed the need for more data on marijuana’s impact on the developing brains of minors, as well as improved monitoring of additives that could potentially increase these poison control calls.
Here's the link: Beyond the high: Diving into Maryland’s cannabis data – CNS Maryland