CDC: Teen visits to the ER for cannabis reasons rose during the pandemic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report that examined changes in emergency room visits among young people for cannabis-related involvement.
Researchers used National Syndromic Surveillance Program data to look at these changes in ER visits between 2019–2022.
Results showed that cannabis-involved ER visits began “increasing statistically significantly among all age groups” except those in the 15–24 year bracket in the years before the pandemic, researchers noted, “potentially as a result of expanding state-level policies legalizing cannabis use.”
“Importantly, the current study found that cannabis-involved ED visits among all persons aged <25 years increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite fluctuations, remained higher than 2019 prepandemic levels throughout 2022,” researchers continued.
The study didn’t pinpoint specific reasons for the uptick, but did point out the need for additional research and prevention efforts. Researchers concluded by suggesting “safe cannabis storage practices” in homes, as well as packaging that doesn’t appeal to kids. They also suggested evidence-based programs to help with stressors that might lead to cannabis consumption.
DOJ: number of people in federal custody for cannabis is plummeting.
The Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released a report last week that shows just how much the number of people serving federal prison sentences for cannabis-related offenses has dropped.
Between 2013 and 2018, a time during which legal adult use cannabis programs started going live, that number fell 61%.
New Mexico regulators pull license from shop selling California products.
Late last week, the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department announced that it revoked the license of Paradise Distro, LLC, a cannabis shop in Albuquerque, for “selling out-of-state cannabis products.” This is the first time a cannabis license has been revoked in the state.
Specifically, Cannabis Control Division inspectors found products that “were marked with California stampings,” products that “were not properly documented on the required shipping manifests,” and that the company was “inaccurately reporting sales data, including more than $56,000 in cash and $8,338 in additional funds.”
You can read the full decision here.
“This revocation should serve as a warning to those selling or receiving out-of-state cannabis products. Our compliance officers are ramping up inspections and we will work to remove bad actors from within the New Mexico cannabis industry,” said Linda Trujillo, the superintendent of the department.
