Older Canadians taking much marijuana after it was legalised: Study
More Canadians aged 65-years-old and above have been landing in emergency rooms for cannabis poisoning after the country legalised marijuana, The New York Times has reported.
This is according to a study published on Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine, which also stated that the rate of poisonings doubled after the country legalised the sale of the cannabis flower, and it tripled 15 months later, after legalising the sale of edibles.
The research focused on 2,322 emergency room visits for cannabis poisoning among those within the age range 65 in Ontario, after visits from 2015 to 2022.
This made researchers able to analyse what happened before and after October 2018, when Canada legalised the sale of dried cannabis, and January 2020, when the sale of edibles was legalised.
The research found that in 2015, 55 emergency room visits caused by cannabis poisoning were recorded. The figure was said to have rose to 462 by 2021, and then in 2022, slightly fell to 404.
The lead author of the study, Nathan Stall, who is also a geriatrician at Mount Sinai Hospital and researcher at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, stated that although researchers and emergency room doctors found that older citizens intentionally used the drugs, other old citizens sometimes take them by accident after they mistook edibles for regular food or snacks.
These patients are said to experience symptoms of cannabis poisoning such as dizziness, confusion, nausea, loss of coordination and balance, drowsiness and hallucinations.
Calling for more attention to be given to drug use by the elderly and its health effects, the researcher said, “It’s somewhat in the shadows, and there is some ageism and bias in thinking that older adults aren’t using drugs.”
The doctor said he undertook the study after being called into the emergency room to consult on an octogenarian who was experiencing severe confusion. The patient was barely conscious and showed strokelike symptoms. Multiple tests showed no clear cause, until Dr. Stall ordered a toxicology test and found cannabis in the patient’s urine.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Anti-Corruption
Again, court adjourns judgement in forfeiture case against Malami
The EFCC had, in the suit, sought the final forfeiture of the properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Africa
Anti-migrant protests risk economic blowback for South Africa: Economists
Economists warned on Friday that the departure of foreign workers in South Africa could hurt the labour market.
Africa
Senegal’s top court calls parliament-backed reform unconstitutional
Senegal’s top court has struck down changes to the country’s constitution that would have altered the balance of power in government.
Health
WHO warns Sudan’s cholera outbreak may get worse
The World Health Organisation warned on Friday that the cholera outbreak in Sudan could get worse amid war, displacement and the onset of the rainy season.
Abuja
Rep explains reason for Nutritionist Registration Council of Nigeria bill
The chairman of the House committee on nutrition and food security, Chike Okafor, has sponsored a bill to establish the Nutritionist Registration Council of Nigeria.
States
Borno: ISWAP’s Friday morning attacks thwarted, says military
“During the pursuit of the fleeing terrorists at Miringa, a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle triggered an improvised explosive device,” said the military.
