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Thursday, Feb 13, 2025
Mugglehead Investment Magazine
Alternative investment news based in Vancouver, B.C.

Cannabis

Cannabis safety: keeping THC away from kids, seniors, and pets

Since the legalization of cannabis, the number of seniors visiting the emergency room has tripled 

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Place all cannabis products in a locked box and keep them stashed out of reach and sight. Image credit: Elsa Olofsson

Cannabis is taking off in a big way, with more states and countries legalizing its medical and recreational use. However, with such burgeoning popularity also comes a few downsides, one of which is the accidental poisoning of children, pets, and seniors.

Data from the Ontario Ministry of Health show that Canadian hospitals have admitted double the number of seniors over 65 for poisoning since the legalization of cannabis flowers in 2018. To make matters worse, edibles came into the picture in 2020 and the number of poisonings have since tripled.

We need to do a better job of keeping our cannabis secure from the unknowing who may inadvertently ingest some and have an awful time. So how do we do that, and what are the symptoms of cannabis poisoning to look out for?

Why are kids, pets, and seniors vulnerable to cannabis poisoning?

You might be wondering why the other family members in your household don’t seem to react to cannabis the way you do. Well, each of us has a vastly different physiology.

First, kids are way smaller and have different metabolisms than adults. In addition, they shouldn’t have had any exposure to cannabis so there’s no tolerance to speak of. Ingesting a full dose of an edible will affect them far more than it would affect us, and edibles are already potent for a full-grown, healthy adult.

Pets too, are smaller and have different metabolisms. THC also works by binding to the receptors in our endocannabinoid system, or ECS. A dog or cat’s ECS is different from ours, and cannabis in high doses is extremely toxic to them. 

Lastly, seniors have a slower metabolism and overall body composition. If they aren’t regular users, they too, have no tolerance to THC and will get hit harder. In addition, if they were trying legal cannabis because they’ve done it before decades ago, the weed we get now is extremely potent compared to the weed of the past. 

For example, weed these days ranges from 10% to 30% THC levels depending on the strain. Compare that to the average of 2% THC levels of weed from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and you can see why there’s a problem. If someone once enjoyed weed from that era and wants to relive the experience, they can easily get into trouble by overdosing. 

Read more: Frequent cannabis consumption doesn’t demotivate people, study finds

Read more: The Farm Bill amendment and its impact on the cannabis industry

Securing storing your cannabis 

Out of reach, out of sight, labeled right, and sealed up tight. That’s the mantra.

First, label all your stash containers with the potency, strain, and dosage information. Be sure that all the members of your family know how to identify cannabis products and explain the risks of accidental ingestion. 

Store the products in child-proof and pet-proof containers that young children and pets cannot access. The containers should go in a lockable storage, like a locked drawer, safe, medical lock box, or cash box. Then place the box out of reach in a high place where pets and children cannot get to. 

Signs of cannabis poisoning

If you’re a seasoned smoker, chances are, you’ve overdone it at some point. If so, you’ll remember that lying helpless on the couch with an accelerated heart rate, confusion, paranoia, anxiety, and panic attacks isn’t very fun. And that’s for someone who knows what cannabis does. Here’s what to look out for:

  • Anxiety and panic attacks. Your loved ones might feel extremely paranoid or fearful.
  • Nausea and vomiting are common for strong doses like those from edibles.
  • Increased heart rate can get dangerous for people with a heart condition.
  • Dry mouth and extreme thirst can lead to dehydration.
  • Impaired judgment and loss of motor coordination make it dangerous to operate appliances, machinery, and vehicles.
  • Dizziness can lead to falls or accidents.
  • Bloodshot eyes are also a side effect of cannabis use.

The chances of accidentally ingesting cannabis flowers aren’t as high as edibles, but curious pets and children might still decide to munch on them. The main problem here is that edibles are made to look like regular food like gummies, candy, and beverages. 

Accidentally ingesting one dose is enough to give someone a difficult time but unknowing family members might end up taking several doses. That will result in a trip to the emergency room, so lock everything up and stash it out of reach.

 

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