The spike in emergency visits related to cannabis for children, youth and young adults between 10 and 24 came just before cannabis was legalized in Canada in 2018.
The study examined more than 14.5 million administrative records of emergency department visits in Ontario between 2003 and 2017.
The study did not explain why there was such an increase, but Bechard said there are likely a number of reasons hospitals began seeing an increase in emergency hospital visits related to cannabis as well as more related hospitalizations beginning in 2003.
Bechard said changing societal attitudes toward cannabis also have likely played a role in the numbers of young patients presenting with serious illnesses related to cannabis at hospitals.
Beyond unintentional ingestion, Bechard said the research indicates that it is important to educate older adolescents and teens about safer use of cannabis.
Bechard said people are often surprised to learn you can overdose on cannabis.
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