As the federal government inches closer to legalizing recreational marijuana, doctors are warning of an emerging health hazard: cannabis allergies.
āThe more people that are exposed to marijuana, the more likely we are to see allergies,ā Toronto-based told Ā鶹“«Ć½. āMarijuana allergy can potentially be very severe -- potentially, it can cause life-threatening reactions just like a peanut allergy.ā
One of Dr. Sussmanās patients is Doneil Oliphant, who learned the hard way that he had a marijuana allergy when he touched his face after handling cannabis oil.
āMy eyes were swollen (almost) completely shut,ā Oliphant recalled. āYou could barely recognize me -- my face got a very round look to it.ā
The symptoms lasted several hours, Oliphant said. Soon after, he found himself taking a skin allergy test at Dr. Sussmanās office and was shocked to learn that he was allergic to weed.
āI didnāt even know it was possible,ā Oliphant said. āMarijuana allergies (are) not something you hear about very often and so I was actually pretty surprised that I had one.ā
With marijuana use becoming more and more prevalent, Dr. Sussman says heās seen an increasing number of patients test positive for cannabis allergies over the past 10 years. Symptoms, he says, can range from skin irritation to respiratory issues to -- in the most severe cases -- full-on anaphylactic shock.
āSkin symptoms are generally from touching it,ā Dr. Sussman explained. āYou can sometimes see itchy skin and hives and you can sometimes see swelling of the eye if you touch your eye after touching the marijuana plant. Respiratory symptoms can be nasal running and sneezing with associated itchy, watery eyes. Occasionally youāll see wheezing, shortness of breath and asthmatic reactions. Anaphylactic symptoms generally occur with hempseed (or eating marijuana products)ā¦ Potentially, any anaphylactic event can be serious and life-threatening.ā
One former undercover officer with the Ontario Provincial Police told Ā鶹“«Ć½ that she didnāt know she had a potentially deadly cannabis allergy until she first touched the plants while on the job.
āWe were doing drug eradication, so we were pulling marijuana plants from a field,ā the woman, who asked not to be identified, said. āI had a reaction to the plants which Iād never had before and my hands and forearms swelled and I got a really bad rash on them and really bad swellingā¦ I wound up having to go to (an emergency room) because the swelling and the rash was so bad that I actually couldnāt use my hands.ā
Even inhaling second-hand marijuana smoke has sent her to hospital.
āWhat happens is I get this really sharp pain behind my left eye, itās excruciatingly painful and itās just like a hot poker in my eye, and then my chest starts to tighten and my face gets all tingly and my arms and hands and extremities tingle and it feels like thereās just a vice in my chest where I canāt breathe,ā she said. āItās quite scary.ā
Now, carrying an EpiPen wherever she goes, the woman worries about being increasingly exposed to marijuana smoke once pot becomes legal.
āIām not able to go to concerts,ā she lamented. āAnd once itās legalized, Iām afraid (of) even just walking down the street.ā
Like most allergies, the only truly effective way to deal with a marijuana allergy is avoidance, Dr. Sussman says.
With legalization on the horizon, Dr. Sussman has also launched the first Canadian study to see how many people have undiagnosed marijuana sensitivities. His goal is to better prepare patients and doctors -- and even potentially save lives.
āIf you look at a study done out of Colorado, about 10 per cent of people just with passive exposure (to marijuana) did have sensitization or allergy symptoms,ā he said. āAt this point, itās under-recognized and under-diagnosed.ā
With files from Ā鶹“«Ć½ā medical affairs specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip
