Urine Toxicology Test for Children With Altered Mental Status.

The rate of unintentional ingestion of edible cannabis products in young children is rising rapidly as laws decriminalizing both recreational and medical marijuana in the United States become more widespread.1 Cannabis poisoning in children can lead to a myriad of symptoms, most notably neurologic changes. The abrupt onset and severity of signs and symptoms after ingestion can cause diagnostic uncertainty for practitioners in the emergency department. Here, we present a case series of 5 children, 6 years of age and younger, who initially presented with altered mental status and were ultimately diagnosed with acute δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol toxicity after cannabis ingestion confirmed by urine toxicology testing. Although urine toxicology testing is not routinely used as a diagnostic tool in pediatrics, the increasing accessibility of edible cannabis products suggests that more widespread urine toxicology testing in children with undifferentiated altered mental status is warranted.

The Continued Rise of Unintentional Ingestion of Edible Cannabis in Toddlers-A Growing Public Health Concern.

This Viewpoint discusses the critical need for research regarding perceptions of edible cannabis, effective methods to educate and screen caregivers, and innovative approaches to safe storage, considering the increase in unintentional ingestion of cannabis edibles among children.