Introduction

• See Cannabis poisoning Cannabis poisoning.
• Medicinal hemp differs from medical marijuana in the concentration of cannibidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinal (THC). Industrial hemp contains high levels of CBD and not more than 0.3% THC on a dry matter basis. Medical marijuana may contain as much as 20% THC and low levels of CBD.
• Rough-stemmed annual herb (resembles the giant ragweed).
• Grows to a height of 1-2.5 m.
• Flowers, leaves and stems covered with hairs which exude a sticky resin.
• Leaves:
  • Opposite.
  • Long-stalked.
  • Each leaf has 5-7 long, pointed, coarsely toothed leaflets.
• Flowers:
  • 2 kinds: one bearing pollen and one bearing seed.
  • Both kinds are small and green and are borne at the tip of the stem and in the upper axils of the leaves.
  • Small.
  • Green.
  • Clustered.

Available products

Legal considerations

Medicinal properties

Toxicity

Clinical signs

Confirmatory diagnosis

Differential diagnoses for marijuana intoxication

Treatment

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Fitzgerald K T, Bronstein A C & Newquist K L (2013) Marijuana poisoning. Topics in Comp Anim Med 28 (1), 8-12 PubMed.
• Meola S D, Tearney C C, Haas S A et al (2012) Evaluation of trends in marijuana toxicosis in dogs living in a state with legalized medical marijuana: 125 dogs (2005-2010). J Vet Emerg Crit Care 22 (6), 690-696 PubMed.
• Janczyk P, Donalson C W, Gwaltney S (2004) Two hundred thirteen cases of marijuana toxicosis in dogs. Vet Human Toxicol 46 (1), 19-21 PubMed.
• Donalson C W (2002) Marijuana exposure in animals. Vet Med 97 (6), 437-439 VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• AVMA: Cannabis use and pets: www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/Pages/Cannabis-Use-Pets.aspx.
• Klatt C (2011) Marijuana. In: Small Animal Toxicology. Osweiler G D, Hovda L R, Brutleg A G, Lee J A (eds). Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell. pp 224-229.