CUMBERLAND — Recent data from the Maryland Department of Health shows a significant increase in emergency department visits related to cannabis use.
The most notable rise, roughly 44% from 2022 to 2023, was observed in Marylanders ages 20 to 29.
“Additionally, calls to poison centers have surged, especially among those under the age of 20,” the Department of Health reported. “From 2021 to 2023, calls to poison centers serving Maryland residents nearly doubled for youths aged 9 and younger, tripled for those aged 10 to 14 and increased by over 26% for individuals aged 15 to 19.”
Dr. Rameen Shafiei is director of emergency medicine at UPMC Western Maryland.
Folks who end up in the emergency department after using cannabis often complain of a combination of symptoms they weren’t expecting, he said.
Sometimes, those patients took too much of the drug.
Regulated cannabis is much more chemically concentrated, or “more perfected,” than what people might be used to getting on the street, Shafiei said.
Maryland legalized recreational marijuana use for adults in July 2023.
In the months leading to that time, the number of folks who showed up at a hospital due to cannabis use spiked.
According to the Department of Health Cannabis Dashboard, across the state there were 503 emergency department visits in July 2022, and 928 in July 2023.
In July 2024, the number fell to 840, and the average monthly emergency department visits involving cannabis that year was 822.4.
“For a while there, we saw a big jump,” Shafiei said of local hospital emergency department visits.
While those numbers have fizzled, the hospital still sees cases of folks who complain of extreme anxiety and have a rapid heart rate after using marijuana, he said.
Treatment for those patients includes supportive care to make them comfortable and monitor their vital signs.
“We make sure they’re well hydrated,” Shafiei said.
“Fortunately, marijuana toxicity overall is not typically life threatening,” he said of adults, but added that cannabis-infused food, or “edibles,” can be dangerous for children.
Shafiei recommends folks consult a cannabis expert before they use the drug, and approach the experience with caution and patience.
“With their help, you can select the right product,” he said.
“Start low and go slow,” Shafiei said. “If you take too much early on, you can’t take that back.”
Folks use cannabis for various reasons, including as a sleep aid or to stimulate appetite, he said.
Strains of the drug are often tailored to meet specific needs.
Additionally, absorption rates differ between marijuana use methods.
Effects from smoking the drug might peak after five to 10 minutes, whereas ingestion results might not happen for an hour, he said.
“Everybody’s different,” Shafiei said.
“It can kind of surprise the users,” he said.
“Be prepared for how you’re going to feel.”