Search Here

There has been significant increase in the number of visits to ER by the tourists visiting Colorado for pot related issues than the ones living there, according to a study by the University of Colorado School of Medicine, reports LA Times

The study that was published in New England Journal of Medicine revealed that the number of people reporting marijuana-related conditions in ER have doubled between 2013 and 2014. The number for the residents, however, remains steady.

While the study cannot positively point to the use of marijuana as the cause of visit, said Andrew Monte, assistant professor of emergency medicine and toxicology at CU school of medicine. "Realistically, these visits could have marijuana mentioned at one point if they came and had a heart attack and said they did smoke a week ago, that would be reflected," Monte said, as reported by Chicago Tribune

People coming to University of Colorado Hospital come from outside the state with marijuana complaints within the first year of retail sale of medicinal drug, discovered the study. During the same period, the state resident visits remained pretty much steady.

The most common issues reported by the users to the ER department were cardio pulmonary conditions, gastrointestinal and psychiatric issues. Monte said, the use of marijuana can aggravate the existing medical problem which explains the increased number of cases.

Mason Tvert from Safer Alternative for Enjoyable recreation, a marijuana advocacy group, said that there are many questions that needs answered, one of them is acclimatization to the altitude. "The number one difference between someone visiting and using marijuana and someone who lives here and using marijuana is that the person visiting has just gone to a much higher altitude and we know that's attributed to a bunch of symptoms like passing out and nausea," as reported by The Cannabist