Study reveals Toxic dose of THC in ingested Cannabis that leads to severe, prolonged symptoms in kids

A recent study sheds light on the correlation between tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dosage and the severity of cannabis-related toxicity in young children. The research, conducted across a pediatric hospital network, highlights the significance of THC dose in pediatric edible cannabis ingestions. The findings were published in the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Spanning from January 1, 2015, to October 25, 2022, the retrospective analysis focused on children under the age of 6 who had consumed cannabis-infused edibles with a known THC dose. The research categorized cannabis toxicity as severe if patients exhibited pronounced cardiovascular, respiratory, or neurological effects. Respiratory failure, seizures, and unresponsiveness were among the severe symptoms noted. Additionally, toxicity was deemed prolonged if recovery took more than six hours.

The study involved 80 patients with a median age of 2.9 years. The median THC ingestion was 2.1 mg/kg. Alarmingly, 46% of cases displayed severe toxicity, while a staggering 74% exhibited prolonged toxicity. Notably, the research established THC dose as a significant predictor of both severe and prolonged toxicity, surpassing factors like age and sex. Through meticulous analysis, the study achieved an impressive 92.9% accuracy for predicting severe toxicity and 87.3% accuracy for prolonged toxicity using THC dose data.