title: Evaluation of trends in marijuana toxicosis in dogs living in a state with legalized medical marijuana: 125 dogs (2005-2010).
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series from January 1, 2005 to October 1, 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private specialty referral hospital and a university teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 125 client-owned dogs presenting for known or suspected marijuana toxicosis with or without a urine drug screening test (UDST).
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Wheat Ridge Veterinary Specialists, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, USA. smeola@wrah.com
authors.forename: Stacy D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Meola
authors.forename: Caitlin C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tearney
authors.forename: Sharlee A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Timothy B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.forename: Elisa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mazzaferro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002188:Cannabis / Q000633:toxicity*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States