Marijuana: Are More Children Being Exposed To The Drug?

New findings published by researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital revealed the risk of young children swallowing, breathing or being exposed to marijuana in general rose from 147.5 percent in 2006 through 2013 across the United States; this rate has increased by nearly 610 percent during the same period in states that have legalized marijuana use prior to 2000.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from over 2,000 children who's exposure to marijuana had been reported to a Poison Control Center in the United States from 2000 to 2013.

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

Findings revealed that while most exposures only resulted in minor clinical effects, for some children, the main psychoactive ingredient contributed to more severe effects, with over 18 percent of children hospitalized.

"Any state considering marijuana legalization needs to include child protections in its laws from the very beginning," Gary Smith, senior author of the study, said in a statement. "Child safety must be part of the discussion when a state is considering legalization of marijuana."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Clinical Pediatrics.

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