Unintentional marijuana ingestions rise sharply in Tennessee

DENVER- - Unintentional pediatric marijuana ingestions in children under the age of 5 have risen by more than 1,000% in the past seven years, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 26-30.

A Tennessee research team reviewed over 2,300 pediatric emergency cases from 2016 to 2023 and found cases rose sharply coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Most children in these cases were discharged from the emergency department, but hospital admissions to general pediatric floors also rose during the research period.

Research authors Brittain Robinson, MD, FAAP, and Nick Watkins, MD, BS, FAAP, said children are typically finding cannabis gummies that belong to a family member or at home and eating them, unaware of the impact.

“Even young children in states where marijuana is not legal are being hospitalized after unintentionally ingesting cannabis products—often edibles that look like candy,” Robinson said.

Data showed that those most impacted were Black children and publicly insured, reflecting persistent racial and socioeconomic disparities in exposure risk.

Furthermore, with the study taking place in a state where cannabis remains illegal, researchers express concern over the significant risk that remains for pediatric exposure to these products as neighboring states have legalized cannabis in some form. The products may easily be transported across the state line or be procured through informal methods, authors said.

The data also reflects the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as children spent longer periods of time at home with reduced adult supervision and increased chances of exposure to cannabis products.

“The number of cannabis-related pediatric emergency visits during the pandemic era (2020–2023) far exceeded those from the preceding four years combined,” Robinson noted.

The authors did not receive financial support for this research.

Dr. Brittain Robinson is scheduled to present the research, which is below, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 29, in the Colorado Convention Center, Four Seasons Ballroom 1 & 2. To request an interview with the authors, contact Ariss Arena at Ariss.Arena@lebonheur.org.

In addition, Dr. Robinson will be among highlighted abstract authors who will give a brief presentation and be available for interviews during a press conference from noon-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, in the National Conference Press Room, CCC 705/707. During the meeting, you may reach AAP media relations staff at 303-228-8338. 

Please note: only the abstract is being presented at the meeting. In some cases, the researcher may have more data available to share with media, or may be preparing a longer article for submission to a journal. 

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP meeting website at http://www.aapexperience.org/

Program Name: 2025 Call for Abstracts

Submission Type: Section on Epidemiology, Public Health, and Evidence

Abstract Title: Rising Trends in Pediatric Marijuana Ingestions: A Retrospective Analysis of the Impact of COVID-19 on Emergency Department Presentations

Brittain Robinson, Nick Watkins

Memphis, TN, United States

Pediatric marijuana ingestions have increased dramatically in recent years, particularly with the rising availability of edible cannabis products. The impact of COVID-19-related lifestyle changes and cannabis policy shifts on ingestion rates, clinical severity, and healthcare utilization remains under examined. The goal of this study is to evaluate trends in pediatric marijuana ingestions before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on age distribution, clinical outcomes, and the increasing burden on emergency and inpatient care.

This retrospective cohort study analyzed pediatric marijuana ingestion cases at a tertiary pediatric emergency department (ED) from 2016 to 2023. Cases were categorized as pre-pandemic (before March 11, 2020) and pandemic-era (until May 11, 2023). Linear regression was used to assess ingestion trends by age group, and chi-square tests examined associations between ingestion rates, and hospital disposition.

The mean age of ingestion cases declined from 15.4 years (SD 3.0) pre-pandemic to 13.9 years (SD 4.6) during the pandemic. Cases among children aged 0-5 years increased by 1466.67%, with the strongest annual growth in the 6-11-year group (R² = 0.86, p < 0.05). Overall, marijuana ingestions rose by ~40 cases per year (p = 0.002). The proportion of total ED visits related to marijuana ingestion nearly tripled from 2016–2019 (0.20%-0.26%) to 2023 (0.70%). Disposition analysis revealed a significant increase in hospital floor admissions (p = 0.0037) and ED visits (p = 0.0016), whereas ICU admissions remained stable. These trends align with national reports linking increased pediatric cannabis exposures to edible availability and legalization policies.

Pediatric marijuana ingestions have risen sharply, particularly among younger children, reflecting increased accessibility of cannabis products. The growing burden on emergency and inpatient services underscores the need for stricter child-resistant packaging, targeted caregiver education, and policy interventions to reduce accidental exposures. Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term neurodevelopmental effects and the effectiveness of regulatory measures.

Yearly Ingestion Trends

Yearly Disposition

patient disposition by year