Pubdate: Sat, 24 Jan 2015
Source: News-Item, The (PA)
Copyright: 2015 The News Item
Contact:  http://www.newsitem.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3556

POT-RELATED POISON CONTROL CALLS UP

SEATTLE (AP)- Marijuana-related calls to poison control centers in 
Washington and Colorado have spiked since the states began allowing 
legal sales last year, with an especially troubling increase in calls 
concerning young children.

New year-end data show that the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center 
received 151 calls for marijuana exposure last year, the first year 
of retail recreational pot sales. That was up from 88 calls in 2013 
and 61 in 2012, the year voters made marijuana legal for adults over 21.

Calls to the Washington Poison Center for marijuana exposures jumped 
by more than half, from 158 in 2013 to 246 last year.

Public health experts say they are especially concerned about 
children accidentally eating marijuana edibles. Calls involving 
children nearly doubled to 48 in Washington involving children 12 or 
under and to 45 in Colorado involving children 8 or under.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom