Unwitting adult marijuana poisoning: a case series.
Kelly Fong, Andy Hsueh, Kayla Kendric, Karissa Kunihira, Nadia Siddiqi, Tammy H Phan, Ellen Reibling, Brian J Wolk
Clinical Toxicology October 2021 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2021.1891241 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case series (retrospective chart analysis with qualitative interviews) Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 12 |
| Population | Adults referred to a Medical Toxicology Service after unwittingly eating marijuana-contaminated food at a family event |
| Measures | urine immunoassay for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), blood ethanol testing |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Marijuana intoxication Marijuana poisoning |
| Key findings | Twelve adults unwittingly exposed to marijuana through contaminated food showed high rates of THC-positive urine (92%) and symptoms such as difficulty speaking (67%) and confusion (50%). Three (25%) required prolonged observation, and among six interviewees all reported sleepiness and three reported negative work impact. No cases resulted in critical care admission or death, but the authors report the exposure caused psychological distress and adversely affected work in some cases. |
Abstract
With increasing state legalization, marijuana use has become commonplace throughout much of the United States. Existing literature on unintentional exposure focuses primarily on children.We report on a cluster of adults with unwitting marijuana exposure. A cluster of cases were referred to the Medical Toxicology Service after ingesting marijuana-contaminated food at a family event. We conducted a retrospective analysis of twelve subject charts and a qualitative analysis with six of these subjects who willingly consented to be interviewed about their experiences. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Three of the subjects (25%) required prolonged observation due to persistent symptoms. Eleven (92%) were urine immunoassay positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Two subjects (17%) tested positive for ethanol in their blood. Common symptoms experienced by the subjects included confusion (50%), difficulty speaking (67%), nausea (25%), tremors (17%), and feelings of unreality (33%). All interviewed subjects reported sleepiness and three (50%) reported a negative impact on work. Subjects also reported multiple emotions, including anger, confusion, disbelief, and helplessness. None of the cases resulted in admission for critical care or death. Our series illuminates effects of unwitting and/or unintentional marijuana exposure in adults. Unintentional marijuana poisonings have increased, but legal and regulatory barriers have limited the study of marijuana outside highly controlled conditions. While the marijuana exposure in this study did not result in admission for critical care or death, it did result in psychological distress and adversely affected work in some cases.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Cannabis‐induced Koro in Americans American men aged 22-26 with years of cannabis experience who reported negative... | 2001 | Case series | n = 3 |
| “Hallucinations” Following Acute Cannabis Dosing: A Case Report and Comparison to Other Hallucinogenic Drugs Healthy 30-year-old male | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: A literature review and three case reports Patients with hallucinogen persisting perception disorder | 2018 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Cannabis Psychosis in Young Psychiatric Inpatients Consecutive psychiatric hospital admissions of patients aged 35 and under | 1986 | Case study | n = 25 |