Doctors Warn of Rising Child Marijuana Use
Recreational marijuana has been legal in Ohio for just about a year, and doctors are already seeing the impact on children.
Dr. Mike Patrick, an emergency physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, said that while marijuana-related cases were rare five years ago, now hardly a shift goes by without at least one teenager coming in with problems linked to cannabis use.
Nationwide, the trend is clear: America’s Poison Centers recorded just 930 cannabis-related incidents in 2009 compared to more than 22,000 last year, with 75% involving children.
Doctors report that the most common issue among teens is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a condition that causes repeated vomiting. More severe complications include heart arrhythmias, decreased consciousness, and the risk of choking, especially with today’s higher-potency cannabis products.
Younger children face added danger from accidentally consuming edibles like gummies or accessing vape liquid, making safe storage critical.
Pediatricians like Dr. Misha Yajnik say conversations about marijuana are happening with children as young as 10 or 11, as exposure through peers grows.
Both Yajnik and Patrick emphasize open, non-judgmental discussions and warn that marijuana is not a healthy way to cope with stress. Protecting children from its harms, they note, is a responsibility that extends from families to the broader community.
Protecting children from marijuana exposure is not only a health concern but also a child rights obligation. Under Article 33 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, governments must take all appropriate measures to shield children from the illicit use of drugs. Ensuring safe environments, education, and prevention is therefore both a public health priority and a duty.
