On July 14, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report on cannabis-
involved emergency department (ED) visits among individuals under the age of 25 before and during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The report revealed an increase in cannabis-related ED visits among young people
during the pandemic compared to 2019. Notably, the CDC identified large increases in rates of cannabis-
related ED visits during the pandemic among children aged 10 and under, and among persons aged 11-
14.
The findings align with recent data from the National Poison Data System, which showed a staggering
1,375 percent rise in cases of children under six years old ingesting edible cannabis between 2017 and
2021, with statistically significant increases in toxicity and severity of such cases during the pandemic
compared to two years prior.
In June 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer alert cautioning that edible
products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are easily mistaken for products that might appeal to
children. The FDA recommended safe storage of these products out of reach of children. Implementing
more robust labeling policies could also help reduce the risk of unintentional ingestion.
View the full report here.