A recent report looked at emergency department visits in the United States that involved cannabis. It focused on people under 25 years old. The report compared visits during the COVID-19 pandemic period to visits from before the pandemic. It found that these cannabis-involved visits were higher during the pandemic.
The report did not include specific numbers. It did not say how many more visits occurred, by what percentage they increased, or provide statistical confidence in the finding. No information was given about the severity of the visits or any specific safety concerns from the cannabis use that led people to the emergency room.
The main reason to be careful with this information is that the report only shows an association, or a link in time. It does not prove that the pandemic caused the increase in visits. Many factors changed during the pandemic, including stress, isolation, and changes in daily routines, which could all play a role. Readers should see this as an early observation that highlights an area for more careful research, not as a definitive finding.
