The Utah Medical Cannabis Act was passed into law in December 2018. The medical use of cannabis is legal (with a doctor's recommendation) in 33 states, plus the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Fourteen other states have laws that limit THC content. Ten states have also legalized recreational use. Marijuana that is legally available for adults has multiple implications for adolescent substance use. Assumptions have been made and studies are underway on the idea that easier access, greater social acceptance, and possibly cheaper product may lead to an increase in underage marijuana use.

The American College of Pediatricians has warned of studies suggesting that adolescent marijuana use has been associated with impairment.

• Impaired cognitive functioning
• Increased risk of developing marijuana dependence
• Elevated rates of school dropout
• An elevated risk of developing psychotic illnesses
• An increased rate of engaging in risky behaviors.

Legalization may also facilitate the introduction of new formulations of marijuana and with potentially higher potencies. There is also the danger of contamination. Last year in Utah 52 people fell ill after smoking what they thought was CBD oil but turned out to be an unknown synthetic cannabinoid (chemicals sprayed on herbs or plant products that can be vaped, smoked, or ingested).

Colorado’s recreational legalization hasn’t reported many problems but there is one unintended consequence that should be noted by neighboring states and EMS.

“Colorado state EMS has seen an increase in heroin use and overdoses. Previously, Mexican marijuana was the predominant product available and contained a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of about 10%. Colorado growers refined their methods and are able to produce a product that contains almost 30% THC. Buyers opted not to purchase the Mexican marijuana due to the lower THC content, so the cartels simply adjusted their business model. They quit shipping in marijuana, started shipping in more heroin instead, and are selling the heroin cheaper than what one can pay for legal marijuana. Thus, EMS has seen an increase in heroin overdoses and deaths.2”

Do you know what to do when you run across underage marijuana use in the field? Are you familiar with the signs of marijuana overdose? What about a heroin overdose? Read on.

1. Implications of Marijuana Legalization for Adolescent Substance Use

Christian Hopfer, MD

2. Implications of Legalized Marijuana for EMS Agencies

Wed, Jan 18, 2017 By Norris W. Croom III

Marijuana Use

Background

Marijuana, or cannabis, is the flower of plants Cannabis sativa, Cannibis sativa forma indica, and Cannibis ruderalis that originate in Central Asia and India. The active ingredients in marijuana include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol, and tetrahydrocannabivarin. The psychoactive component is the THC, which acts on the CB1 receptors in the central nervous system. It affects the body in minutes when smoked and about 30-60 minutes when eaten. THC is highly lipid-soluble and the effects can last from 2 to 6 hours and detectible levels last in the body for days to weeks. Unlike THC, CBD does not act on the CB1 receptors and, therefore, does not have psychoactive properties. Common slang terms for marijuana include "pot," "grass," "dope," "MJ," "Mary Jane," "doobie," "hooch," "weed," "hash," "reefers," and "ganja."

History of Marijuana

There is evidence of marijuana use dating back more than 5,000 years ago in what is now Romania and evidence of medicinal use around 400 A.D. It was described in the United States Pharmacopoeia in 1850 and widely used medicinally in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Starting in 1950s, with the enactment of the Narcotic Control Acts, there were legal penalties for possessing marijuana. In 1970, marijuana became federally prohibited with the Controlled Substances Act. In 1996, California was the first state to permit its use medically under physician supervision. Since that time, 21 states have decriminalized marijuana.

Epidemiology

One study, which included >22,000 students in 8-10th grades, reported 9.3% had used marijuana in the past 30 days. Figure 1 shows the percentage by state of use by adolescents between 12-17 years in the past month. Utah, specifically, had a rate of use in the past month of 5.35% (CI 4.17-6.85).

Acute Intoxication presentation

Due to the lack of consistency and predictability in doses of both edible and inhaled forms of cannabis, consumption can often cause adverse effects. inhaled doses of 2 to 3 mg of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and ingested doses of 5 to 20 mg THC impair attention, concentration, short-term memory, and executive functioning. Nausea, postural hypotension, delirium, panic attacks, anxiety, and myoclonic jerking can occur at higher doses. Psychosis has also been documented at higher doses. Signs on exam can include tachycardia, increased blood pressure, increased respiratory rate, dry mouth, nystagmus, and slurred speech. Inhaled marijuana can induce an asthma exacerbation and pneumomediastinum/pneumothorax.

Accidental toxicity can also occur in children, after ingestion of concentrated food products (doses from 5mg to 300mg have been reported) resulting in ataxia, excessive and purposeless motor activity of the extremities (hyperkinesis), coma, and respiratory depression.

Treatment for acute intoxication

Treatment is supportive. Make sure to maintain airway, breathing, and circulation and obtain glucose to exclude hypoglycemia. Certainly, if it is unclear whether it is an opioid overdose or cannabis, provide naloxone. Naloxone will not reverse marijuana-induced intoxication, but will help in the setting of opioid overdose. For severe agitation that is not responsive to verbal re-direction, benzodiazepines can be used.

Medical Use in Pediatrics

Medical cannabis use is being investigated for patients with difficult-to-control seizures (CBD), pediatric cancer patients, behavioral conditions (autism, etc), perinatal brain injury, and neuroblastoma. Ongoing research is needed in these areas.

What the studies show regarding adverse effects

Many of the studies that have been done come from data pulled from recreational marijuana users. Short-term use of cannabis is known to result in impaired short-term memory, impaired coordination, altered judgement, and, at higher doses, paranoia and psychosis. Long-term or heavy use has been associated with altered brain development, cognitive impairment, poor educational outcomes, chronic bronchitis, and an increased risk of chronic psychosis-related health disorders (schizophrenia and depression). There is also literature describing associations with vascular conditions, such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and transient ischemic attack. Additionally, hyperemesis syndrome can occur.

References

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2015). Behavioral health trends in the United States: Results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. SMA 15–4927, NSDUH Series H–50). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Bridgeman, Mary Barna, et al. Medicinal Cannibis: History, Pharmacology, and implications for the Acute Care Setting. Pharmacy and Therapeutics. March 2017. 180-188.

Dai, Hongyingi and Hao, Jianqiang. Electronic cigarette and marijuana use among youth in the United States. Addictive Behaviors. November 19th, 2016. 48-54.

Hughes, A., Lipari, R.N., & Williams, M. The CBHSQ Report: State Estimates of Adolescent Marijuana Use and Perceptions of Risk of Harm From Marijuana Use: 2013 and 2014. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality.

Wang, George Sam. Cannibis: Acute intoxication. UpToDate.com April 2018.