Funded Projects

Educating Families on Safe Cannabis Storage

Project Year

2024

City & State

Columbus, Ohio

Program Name

CATCH Resident

Topic

Health Education & Prevention

Program Description

"Problem: Pediatric cannabis poisonings have become a growing public health concern in the wake of state legalization. (1, 2) Poisonings can encompass various forms of cannabis exposure, including cannabis plants, extracts, vapes, and edibles, and have shown an increase across all age groups. (3,4) In young children, a large proportion of these exposures are due to edible ingestions. (5,6) From 2017 to 2021, there was a 1,375% increase in calls to Poison Centers regarding exposures to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing edibles among children less than 6 years old. (7)  Cannabis edibles are a unique hazard to young children due to their vibrant, enticing packaging and their tendency to mimic common consumables, such as chips, candies, and drinks. Despite their benign appearance, cannabis edibles are often potent, and a single package of cannabis edibles may contain more than fifty times the recommended THC dose for an adult. (8)    Ingestions of edibles in young children can result in significant toxicity including central nervous system and respiratory depression, often requiring admission to intensive care units. (7, 9-12) Currently, medical cannabis is legal in 38 states, while recreational cannabis is legal in 24 states with Ohio being the most recent in November 2023. (13) There has been an increase in pediatric cannabis exposures in states following the legalization of cannabis. (14-17) With the trend toward state-level cannabis legalization, there has also been a corresponding increase in the availability and use of cannabis products. (18-20) Additionally, the variety and potency of products derived from cannabis have increased over the past several decades. (21-23) The combination of increasing cannabis usage in homes with children and heightened potency of cannabis products presents a potential threat to the safety of pediatric patients.    Primary Setting: The primary setting will be community-based primary care clinics at an inner-city pediatric medical center. Additional events will occur in the community of Columbus, OH to increase and diversify our community engagement.   Project Goal: The goal of our project is to improve awareness of the dangers of cannabis ingestion in pediatric patients by collaborating with community partners to provide public health education regarding the safe storage of cannabis and to distribute safe storage devices. By combining practical solutions with community engagement, this initiative aims to promote responsible cannabis use, enhance child safety, and contribute to the overall well-being of our community.        Proposed interventions: Our proposed interventions include collaborating with community partners to develop educational materials. These resources will specifically aim to educate the community about the risks associated with unintentional ingestions of cannabis products in pediatric patients, how to properly respond to ingestions, and how to safely store these products at home. We aim to develop an educational pamphlet with QR codes to additional information. Furthermore, we aim to supply child-resistant lockboxes to parents, ensuring that cannabis products are properly stored safely and kept out of reach of minors. This proactive initiative will promote responsible consumption and help safeguard our community's children from unintentional exposures to cannabis products, ultimately fostering a safer and more informed environment for all   Anticipated Outcomes: To gauge the effectiveness of our educational materials and provided cannabis safe storage resources, we will conduct surveys with the individuals who received the lock boxes. The aim is to measure caregiver understanding and adherence to safe cannabis storage practices following the distribution of lockboxes and educational materials. We anticipate that there will be improved awareness of the dangers of unintentional cannabis ingestions in pediatric patients and adherence to proper safe storage practices."

Project Goal

​​The goal of our project is to improve awareness of the dangers of cannabis ingestions in pediatric patients by partnering with community partners to provide public health education regarding the safe storage of cannabis and distribute safe storage devices. By combining practical solutions with community engagement, this initiative aims to promote responsible cannabis use, enhance child safety, and contribute to the overall well-being of our community.  ​ 

Project Objective 1

​​We aim to work with our community partners to develop educational materials to provide parents with easily accessible information on safe cannabis storage, recognizing poisoning symptoms, and responding effectively in case of ingestion concerns. By July 2024, we will develop pamphlets that will be provided to families that will include the aforementioned information. This approach ensures that essential safety guidelines are readily available in both daily routines and emergencies, promoting a secure environment for families. ​ 

Project Objective 2

By March 2025, our goal is to distribute 68 lockboxes to families in our community, ensuring the safe and responsible storage of cannabis products. This initiative involves partnering with community primary care clinics (through the Primary Care Research Network) to distribute these lockboxes.

Project Objective 3

​To gauge the effectiveness of our educational materials and cannabis safe storage resources, we will conduct surveys with the 68 individuals who received safety equipment by May 2025. The aim is to measure caregiver understanding and adherence to safe cannabis storage practices following the distribution of lock boxes and educational materials. By systematically assessing caregiver perspectives and behaviors, this evaluation aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of our cannabis safety initiative, facilitating future improvements and ensuring a safer environment for families in our community.

AAP District

District V

Institutional Name

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Contact 1

Katherine Lehman, MD

Contact 2

Serena Dow, MD