New York has released its first statewide accounting of cannabis-related emergency room visits since the state legalized recreational marijuana, and the numbers show a sharp rise in pediatric poisonings.
Even though The Empire State features a wide range of addiction treatment programs for people of all backgrounds, the ubiquity of legalized cannabis has led to accidental exposures among children. Indeed, for New York families, the report is a reminder that the risks of legal cannabis products extend well beyond the adults who buy them.
New York’s Data
According to a New York Department of Health, cannabis-related poisoning and detox visits to get cannabis out of a child’s system rose from about 1,200 in 2016 to nearly 2,400 in 2024. The steepest increase came among children under 5, whose visit rate climbed nearly 40-fold over that period. State officials said toddler poisonings now exceed emergency visits for Tylenol, aspirin, and similar over-the-counter painkillers combined in that age group.
The pattern lines up with separate reporting from the Upstate New York Poison Center, which logged more than 540 cannabis exposure calls in 2024. More than 50% involved children younger than 6. Many cases involved cannabis edibles that resembled candy or snacks, packaging that health officials say makes accidental ingestion more likely.
Cannabis Use Disorder and Pediatric Risk
Cannabis use disorder describes a pattern of persistent marijuana use that continues despite the physical or social harm. It typically affects people who use the drug intentionally over time.
Pediatric cannabis poisoning is a different and more urgent concern. It happens when a young child accidentally eats an edible product, often one that looks like ordinary candy. The child experiences effects ranging from vomiting and lethargy to, in rarer and more severe cases, breathing problems that require hospitalization.
New York officials have noted pediatric cases are now a routine emergency-care issue rather than a rare outlier.
Keep Kids Safe
Public health officials point to a combination of factors that can lead to exposure. Cannabis packaging might resemble familiar snacks, a rise in THC potency in legal and unregulated products alike, incomplete tracking of cannabis products sold outside licensed dispensaries, trends like dabbing, and ordinary household storage habits that don’t consider gummies or candy as dangerous. Michele Calida, operations director at the Upstate New York Poison Center, urges families to treat cannabis products the same way they would treat medication to avoid exposure and addiction. “Keep it up high, locked away in a cupboard or lock boxes,” she pointed out.
This data doesn’t suggest cannabis is the leading household danger for every family. But it shows how the scale of the pediatric exposure problem has grown large enough that emergency departments across New York now treat it as an expected part of the caseload rather than an occasional surprise.
Parents who use cannabis products, even if purchased at a licensed dispensary, should store them exactly as they would prescription medication: up, away, and out of a child’s reach and sight, never in original packaging that could be mistaken for food.
Addiction Treatment in New York & Beyond
Families concerned about a teen or adult’s cannabis use and addiction, as opposed to accidental pediatric exposure, have options across the state. Check out addiction treatment centers and compare programs by location, insurance accepted, and level of care. If you suspect a child has ingested cannabis, contact Poison Control immediately rather than waiting for symptoms to escalate.
Our browsable directory features verified treatment centers anywhere in the USA for families navigating cannabis use disorder or other substance use concerns. You can also call
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