Cannabis Over-Intoxication Results in Millions of Visits to the ER per Year

The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.

The burden on the healthcare system from cannabis use is often underappreciated, because many see the risks of smoking marijuana as low. However, there are a very large number of visits to the emergency room every year as a result of cannabis intoxication. 

According to the latest data gathered by the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) there were over 1.7 million estimated ER visits associated with cannabis in 2018, the latest year with data. This is over 1% of all visits to the ER during that year. Of drug related visits to the ER, cannabis is the second most common cause after methamphetamine, and more common than alcohol, heroin, or cocaine.

As cannabis legalization increases access to the drug and its potency, the number of ER visits is expected to increase. In the NEDS data, ER visits were growing on average 13% per year, which implies over 2.5 million cases today.

There is a major cost to the medical system associated with cannabis over-intoxication. Based on a report by United Healthcare, the average cost of a ED visit is $2,200, which implies billions in costs every year. 

Moreover, despite the perception that cannabis over-intoxication is victimless, there are real risks, especially to children. Unlike in adults, the risks of overdose in children include coma and even death. Other effects include tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, and respiratory depression severe enough to require ventilation.

The risks in adults are also underappreciated. Although there is little risk of death, cannabis over-intoxication is associated with a number of psychiatric complications including acute psychosis. There are also a large number of motor vehicle accidents in which cannabis intoxication is implicated.

Cannabis intoxication can increase the risks associated with other substances. Among cases of alcohol poisoning, cannabis is implicated in 43%, whereas only 20% of cases involve alcohol alone. 

A Cannabis Antidote Could Significantly Reduce Costs and Risks

The company Anebulo Pharmaceuticals ANEB is developing a pill that with a single oral dose could reduce or eliminate the effects of cannabis intoxication. The drug ANEB-001 is a CB1 antagonist, which works by preventing THC or other cannabinoids (including synthetic cannabinoids from K2 or Spice) from binding to this receptor preventing or reversing intoxication. Other historical CB1 antagonists have demonstrated this ability in the past. The drug Narcan (naloxone) works via similar principle for opiate intoxication and overdose, and the hope is that ANEB-001 can fill a similar niche for cannabis. 

The company is entering Phase II clinical trials in 2021 in cannabis users to investigate the dose needed to fully occlude the effects of cannabis and THC. 

The preceding post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga. Although the piece is not and should not be construed as editorial content, the sponsored content team works to ensure that any and all information contained within is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and research. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.