Marijuana Exposure Among Young Children Has Increased by Almost 150 Percent

Child may be exposed to marijuana. Scientists have discovered that marijuana exposure among children that are five years of age or younger has increased as states have legalized the drug.

In this latest study, the researchers turned to data from the Poison Control Centers in the United States. They found that overall, there were 1,969 young children reported to these centers because of marijuana exposure from 2000 through 2013. While this is a relatively small number of total cases, there has also been a step rate of increase.

The scientists found that the rate of marijuana exposure among young children has risen by 147.5 percent from 2006 through 2013 across the United States. In addition, the rate increased almost 610 percent during that same period in states that legalized marijuana for medical use before 2000.

More than 75 percent of the children who were exposed were younger than three years of age. In addition, most of the children were exposed when they swallowed marijuana.

"The high percentage of ingestions may be related to the popularity of marijuana brownies, cookies and other foods," said Henry Spiller, co-author of the new study, in a news release. "Very young children explore their environments by putting items in their mouths, and foods such as brownies and cookies are attractive."

The researchers stress that any state considering marijuana legalization needs to include child protections in its laws. This includes child-resistant packaging and packaging that is not see-through.

The findings are published in the journal Clinical Pediatrics.

Related Stories

Medical Marijuana Doesn't increase Your Risk for Other Drug Use

What Causes the Munchies?

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).