The number of children coming into Colorado’s largest pediatric emergency department after accidentally eating marijuana is on pace to more than double last year’s total.
Michael DiStefano, the medical director of the Children’s Hospital Colorado emergency department, said nine kids so far this year have been brought into the hospital for accidental marijuana ingestion. Of those, seven were admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit — most commonly for what DiStefano said was either extreme sedation or agitation. One of those kids had breathing problems that required a respirator, DiStefano said.
Most of the children admitted are between 3 and 7 years old, DiStefano said.
Last year, the hospital saw eight children in its emergency room who accidentally ate marijuana. Between 2005 and 2013, only eight children were admitted at the hospital for unintentional marijuana ingestion, DiStefano said.
Though the numbers are still small compared to the total patient load, DiStefano said the patients at Children’s are just one slice of what hospitals across the state are seeing.
“It is important to stop it before it becomes a huge problem,” he said.
DiStefano spoke Wednesday after Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill attempting to do just that.
The new law, formerly known as House Bill 1366, requires state regulators to come up with rules that make edible marijuana products identifiable even when they are out of their packaging. Lawmakers suggested the products might all contain a unique stamp or be made in a particular shape or color.
At Wednesday’s bill signing, held in the lobby of Children’s Hospital, Rep. Frank McNulty criticized marijuana businesses for making edible products that resemble candy or other treats — things that he said would naturally appeal to kids.
“Marijuana edibles are dangerous in the hands of kids,” said McNulty, a Highlands Ranch Republican who was one of the new law’s sponsors in the legislature. “That has become all too familiar to the people who work here are Children’s Hospital.”
The edibles bill was one of six different bills Hickenlooper signed at the ceremony Wednesday. Other bills put regulations on the amount of marijuana concentrate that stores can sell, create programs designed to reduce prescription drug abuse and collect data on school immunization rates.
One bill creates a $10 million grant program to help scientists research the medically efficacy and safety of marijuana.
Hickenlooper said the bills “are critical to our ongoing goal of making Colorado the healthiest state in the nation and our constant goal of protecting our children.”
John Ingold
Author: Mile High Mamas
Hannah
And this is the response when you challenge the legalization of marijuana.
There were many promises attached with the legalization of recreational pot use, and the reality is something different.
But you are not allowed to talk about that or challenge the model of legalization. It’s a sacred cow and even though it would be really beneficial to reconsider how marijuana is grown, bought, sold, and packaged, you can expect personal attacks instead of discussion.
Legalizing marijuana came with the promise of reducing crime, and mortality. That officials could stop worrying about this substance that is no worse than alcohol. Sunshine and puppies if you legalize weed!!
Stoned driving with fatalities has also doubled since 2000 (when medical marijuana was legalized). There were grade 4 students busted in two seperate incidents where they sold Granpa’s legal weed at their elementary school. You’ve got a 19 year old jumping to his death and a family man blasting his wife, both after consuming too much edible THC. Dealers are trying to illegally undercut the more expensive legal marijuana, and the Mexican Cartels have flooded the market with cheap heroin for the high school kids that can’t afford the legal pot.
Alcohol has been in our society since Ancient Egyptian times. It served a purpose by giving us something to drink without protozoans and parasites. We know what it is, and what it does. We are still learning about THC and it seems particularly detrimental to adolescents. There is no valid roadside test for THC and won’t be for a couple of years.
Because it HAS made a lot of money for the state and the people who sell it. It’s a shame really. Legalizing marijuana might actually be good in the long run, but the short run isn’t looking so hot.
Perhaps a better way of legalizing it? More like Amsterdam or Uruguay? I guess we’ll see how this social experiment works out. I wish the best of luck to you, and all the people in Colorado. I hope the good soon outweighs the bad. Good luck, and God bless.
Christian
The edibles need to be gotten under control. Effective packaging by the industry would help, prosecuting parents would help too.
Aaryn
The ONLY control required with FREE Cannabis growing in one’s backyard would be GOOD PARENTING… “Don’t touch that unless parent supervised or you are 18 or over.” There. ‘nough said.
Patty
Marijuana already has strict and expensive packaging rules. Parents need to be parents here. Why do we even need edibles? Ridiculous.
Monica
Knowing the toxicity of Cannabis and other items commonly found in Colorado homes and the rates at which children gain access to these items gives us a pretty clear picture as to which items need more regulation and which items do not.
Tara
Yes it is a problem when stoned parents can’t keep their pot treats out of reach.
Momof4
One of the kids in the story needed a respirator. You don’t need a respirator if you are breathing fine on your own.
High doses in small children is indeed poison. Do you actually believe that a two year-old can eat 5 or 6 hash cookies and there is NO risk of death?