Cannabis ER Visits Surge in Maryland as Legalization Grows

Maryland has experienced a “significant increase” in cannabis-related emergency department visits, according to the Maryland Department of Health.  The health department launched a data dashboard (MCA Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Data Dashboard) last week to track public health impacts of cannabis and visualize trends pre- and post-marijuana legalization in the state.  The state saw an average of 816.9 emergency department visits related to cannabis per month so far this year, up from 779.7 per month in 2023.  The dashboard includes data on emergency department visits, youth and adult use, substance use services and calls to D.C. and Maryland poison centers from 2019 through the current full month.  Each portion of data can also be broken down by age group, race, sex and geographic location.  The increase in visits could be linked to an increase in cannabis usage, but it could also be due to a decreased stigma, making people more likely to share information about their use with a healthcare provider.  The Maryland Poison Center has been receiving a higher percentage of calls regarding unregulated cannabis products that aren’t purchased at a dispensary.  An associate professor with the University of Maryland School of Medicine stated that "Though people often think of marijuana as being “a safe thing,”, they need to understand how harmful the substance can be for small children and the effects cannabis has on developing brains.  It is important to keep cannabis products locked away, especially edible items that aren’t individually wrapped.  “Cannabis itself is very, very difficult to kill people, but if it does, it’s usually going to be a small child,”.  The Maryland Cannabis Administration and the Department of Health created a public education campaign called BeCannabisSmart to share information on topics such as drugged driving, preventing accidental exposure to pets and children, and encouraging smoke-free public space compliance.  Here's the link to the article: Cannabis public health dashboard launched, tips for safe use