Poison Center Creates Hotline for Cannabis Consumer Safety

Toxicology experts, nurses and pharmacists from Denver Health’s Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center will now be available around the clock to answer and resolve questions surrounding cannabis consumption. The three-month pilot program is funded by the city and county of Denver and will focus on cannabis-related concerns. It’s the latest step that Colorado has made to ensure that every conceivable safety measure has been taken in order to keep cannabis consumers safe and properly educated.

The hotline is not intended for serious life-threatening emergencies. For those situations, dialing 911 is always the best choice. By adding a line specifically devoted to cannabis-related questions and concerns, the call center gives other Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center workers more time to focus on serious poisoning exposures, adverse events and drug identification.

“These medical experts can answer questions about occupational safety hazards for marijuana industry workers as well as questions about pesticides, toxins, additives, ingredients and contaminants in marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) products,” officials said in a statement. According to officials, the hotline is not intended to be used as a directory of dispensaries or an information line with menus, hours or pricing. The number for the hotline is (877) 741-3777.

Even with steadily rising cannabis consumption rates in Colorado, cannabis-related poison control calls are slightly down, according to a state government-sponsored report from the Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee. “In 2016 the number of marijuana exposure calls decreased but the change was not significant,” wrote researchers. However researchers from JAMA Pediatrics disagree, claiming that emergency room visits and poison control calls for children have increased after legalization, however, the actual numbers of emergencies were far less significant. Despite these generally promising figures, call center workers are still weighed down by commonly-asked question such as edible “overdoses” and dosing questions.

Denver County residents now have a 24-hour safety net in the event that they want to consult with a trained professional regarding cannabis-related questions. When the three-month trial period expires, the program may be extended after review.