Marijuana
General poisoning notes:
Accidental
ingestion of marijuana (Cannabis sativa) by pets is an occasional
problem. Family pets or young children may accidentally ingest the plant, which
may be stored in plastic bags. A dog ingested hashish brownies and then exhibited
various symptoms such as hyperactivity, vomiting, somnolence, staggering, and
glazed eyes. In another case, in Edmonton, a pet ferret ingested the plant and
became comatose after experiencing sneezing bouts and ataxia. Although no
fatalities of humans have been reported, the effects on a young child
accidentally ingesting marijuana are bound to be very disturbing to the parents
(Jones 1978, Smith 1988).
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Cannabis sativa L.
Vernacular
name(s): marijuana
Scientific family
name: Cannabinaceae
Vernacular family
name: hemp
Geographic Information
Alberta, British
Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec.
Notes on Poisonous plant parts:
The resins in the
leaves are psychoactive in mammals, including humans. These plants are
cultivated indoors and outdoors for human use. The plants can overwinter as
seed in warmer parts of the country. The most common form that may be
accidentally ingested by humans and pets is marijuana that has been left in
houses for illegal human use.
Toxic parts:
Flowers, leaves.
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) is the chemical most often cited as causing the psychoactive compound in
marijuana. This chemical affects humans and many other mammals. Any children or
pets that accidentally ingest quantities of marijuana may show various
symptoms, including coma.
Toxic plant chemicals:
Tetrahydrocannabinol.
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an
animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993)
contained no detailed explanation.
Dogs
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Agitation,
drowsiness, gait, staggering, unconsciousness, vomiting.
Ferrets
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Ataxia,
coma, temperature, depressed.
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