Rate Of Cannabis-Related Emergency Room Visits Among Older Adults In California On The Rise

Among California residents aged 65 years and older, the percentage of emergency department visits related to cannabis use increased by 1,804% between 2005 and 2019. In 2005, there were 366 such visits, which represented 0.02% of all emergency department visits by this population, at a rate of 20.7 per 100,000 visits. In 2019, there were 12,167 such visits, which represented 0.40% of emergency department visits by this population, at a rate of 395.0 per 100,000 visits.

Cannabis can slow reaction time and impair attention, and it can interact with prescription medications. A . . .