The latest study involved nearly 340,000 reports to poison centers involving all drugs over 20 years. Researchers looked solely at those involving children aged six to 18. They found cases involving marijuana rose the quickest of any substance, replacing alcohol in 2014 and rising fastest between 2017 and 2020 — when weed began to be decriminalized at the federal level – The sharpest surge in marijuana use was between 2017 to 2020, rising by about 40 percent in three years.
- Researchers in Oregon looked at 338,000 cases of intentional abuse or misuse
- Found marijuana has been leading cause of poisoning for children since 2018
- Researchers warned it was linked to legalization making drug more accessible
- Marijuana is considered particularly dangerous for young, developing brains and maypermanently change their structure leading to a loss of IQ.
Dr Adrienne Hughes, an emergency medicine expert at Oregon Health and Science University who led the study, said: 'These findings may reflect the impact of rapidly evolving cannabis legalization on this vulnerable population.
'Along with increasing cannabis legalization, we are also seeing the emergence of alternative modes of consumption, especially non-combustible products such as edibles and vaping devices. 'These edible products and vaping products are often marketed in ways that are attractive to youth, can be used with more discretion, and are more convenient. 'A focus group study with teenagers found that edibles were attractive to those concerned about smoking or the smell associated with smoking marijuana.'
(Source: Child marijuana use has soared 250% in last 20 years - replacing alcohol )
See Also, Women in States that Legalize Cannabis are Five times More Likely to Use Cannabis While Pregnant
