Intoxication From Accidental Marijuana Ingestion in Pediatric Patients: What May Lie Ahead

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug. In young children, there are relatively few reports in the literature of acute marijuana intoxication. Here, we describe the case of a previously healthy 2-year-old girl who presented with clinical seizures. A urine toxicology screen showed elevated levels of tetrahydrocannabinol. The source of the drug was not identified. After a short stay in the hospital, the patient fully recovered with only supportive measures. In this report, we also summarize all domestic and international cases of marijuana intoxication in children younger than 6 years, in conjunction with the number of exposures in children of similar age identified by the US National Poison Data System. This report highlights what is becoming a more common problem. As cannabis continues to be decriminalized across the United States with its increasingly diverse modes of delivery, the potential for accidental exposure in infants and young children also rises. Clinicians should now routinely consider marijuana intoxication in children who present with acute neurological abnormalities.