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Background and Objectives: Blood donor opinions and behaviours regarding marijuana use are not well known nor is the potential impact to the blood supply. We sought to assess opinions and frequency of marijuana use in proximity to blood donation via a survey of blood donors at a hospital‐based blood collection site in a state where recreational marijuana use has been legal since 2012. Materials and Methods: Blood donors at least 18 years of age who donated between 2014 and 2019 were surveyed electronically, with all responses kept anonymous to encourage engagement and accurate reporting. Results: Overall response rate was 8.03% (12,186 surveys sent with 979 responses). Of responding donors, 23.5% indicated that they felt that consuming various forms of marijuana was acceptable prior to blood donation. Marijuana use <72 h prior to blood donation was reported in all demographic groups surveyed except age 18–24 years. Of donors who reported daily marijuana use, 47.4% indicated >20 donations and 52.6% indicated apheresis platelet donation. Conclusion: Nearly one quarter of responding blood donors feel that marijuana use is acceptable prior to blood donation, and nearly every demographic group surveyed indicated use of marijuana <72 h prior to donation. These results suggest the need for additional research to determine if marijuana‐related metabolites in collected blood products negatively impact recipients, particularly vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women. These results may inform whether changes in donor screening or testing for marijuana use are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the association between marijuana use and a composite adverse pregnancy outcome using biological sampling.Design: Retrospective cohort study.Setting: Single tertiary center.Population: Young women (13-22 years old) with singleton, non-anomalous pregnancies delivered from September 2011 to May 2017.Methods: Exposure was defined as marijuana detected on universal urine toxicology testing or by self-report. Multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to estimate the effect of any marijuana use on the primary composite outcome. The effect of marijuana exposure was also estimated for self-reported use, toxicology-detected use, and multiple use detected by toxicology.Main Outcome Measure: The primary composite outcome included spontaneous preterm birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, stillbirth, or small for gestational age.Results: Of 1206 pregnant young women, 17.5% (n = 211) used marijuana. Among the women who used marijuana, 8.5% (n = 18) were identified by self-report alone, 63% (n = 133) by urine toxicology alone, and 28.4% (n = 60) by both. Urine toxicology testing results were available for 1092 (90.5%) births. The composite outcome occurred more frequently in pregnancies exposed to marijuana (46 versus 34%, P < 0.001). This remained significant after adjusting for race/ethnicity and tobacco in the multivariable model (adjusted OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.09-2.05). When marijuana exposure was defined by self-report only, the association with adverse pregnancy outcome became non-significant (adjusted OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.62-1.64).Conclusion: In a population of young women with nearly universal biological sampling, marijuana exposure was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The heterogeneity of findings in existing studies evaluating the impact of marijuana on mothers and neonates may result from the incomplete ascertainment of exposure.Tweetable Abstract: Marijuana use, as detected by universal urine testing, was associated with a composite adverse pregnancy outcome among young mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butane hash oil (BHO), also known as 'amber,' 'dab,' 'glass,' 'honey,' 'shatter,' or 'wax,' is a potent marijuana concentrate, containing up to 90 % tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). BHO is easily manufactured using highly volatile butane as a solvent. Our objective was to characterize hydrocarbon burns associated with BHO manufacture in Colorado. This was a cross-sectional study utilizing the National Burn Repository to capture all hydrocarbon burns reported to the local burn center from January 1st, 2008, through August 31st, 2014. We abstracted demographic and clinical variables from medical records for patients admitted for hydrocarbon burns associated with butane hash oil extraction. Twenty-nine cases of BHO burns were admitted to the local burn center during the study period. Zero cases presented prior to medical liberalization, 19 (61.3 %) during medical liberalization (Oct 2009-Dec 2013), and 12 (38.7 %) in 2014 since legalization. The majority of cases were Caucasian (72.4 %) males (89.7 %). Median age was 26 (range 15-58). The median total-body-surface-area (TBSA) burn size was 10 % (TBSA range 1-90 %). Median length of hospital admission was 10 days. Six required intubation for airway protection (21 %). Nineteen required skin grafting, eight wound care only, one required surgical fracture repair, and one required surgical debridement. Hydrocarbon burns associated with hash oil production have increased since the liberalization of marijuana policy in Colorado. A combination of public health messaging, standardization of manufacturing processes, and worker safety regulations are needed to decrease the risks associated with BHO production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To report a correlation between the increased number of medical marijuana licenses and marijuana toxicosis in dogs in a state with legalized marijuana for medical use. Design Retrospective case series from January 1, 2005 to October 1, 2010. Setting Private specialty referral hospital and a university teaching hospital. Animals A total of 125 client-owned dogs presenting for known or suspected marijuana toxicosis with or without a urine drug screening test (UDST). Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results During the study period, 125 dogs were evaluated including 76 dogs with known marijuana exposure or a positive UDST (group 1), 6 dogs with known marijuana ingestion and a negative UDST (group 2), and 43 dogs with known marijuana ingestion that were not tested (group 3). The incidence of marijuana toxicosis presenting to both hospitals increased 4-fold, while the number of people registered for medical marijuana in the state increased 146-fold in the last 5 years. A significant positive correlation was detected between the increase in known/suspected marijuana toxicosis in dogs (groups 1-3) and the increased number of medical marijuana licenses (correlation R coefficient = 0.959, P = 0.002). Two dogs that ingested butter made with medical grade marijuana in baked products died. Conclusions A significant correlation was found between the number of medical marijuana licenses and marijuana toxicosis cases seen in 2 veterinary hospitals in Colorado. Ingestion of baked goods made with medical grade tetrahydrocannabinol butter resulted in 2 deaths. UDST may be unreliable for the detection of marijuana toxicosis in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]