As the federal government inches closer to legalizing recreational marijuana, doctors are warning of an emerging health hazard: cannabis allergies.
âThe more people that are exposed to marijuana, the more likely we are to see allergies,â Toronto-based told ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝. âMarijuana allergy can potentially be very severe -- potentially, it can cause life-threatening reactions just like a peanut allergy.â
One of Dr. Sussmanâs patients is Doneil Oliphant, who learned the hard way that he had a marijuana allergy when he touched his face after handling cannabis oil.
âMy eyes were swollen (almost) completely shut,â Oliphant recalled. âYou could barely recognize me -- my face got a very round look to it.â
The symptoms lasted several hours, Oliphant said. Soon after, he found himself taking a skin allergy test at Dr. Sussmanâs office and was shocked to learn that he was allergic to weed.
âI didnât even know it was possible,â Oliphant said. âMarijuana allergies (are) not something you hear about very often and so I was actually pretty surprised that I had one.â
With marijuana use becoming more and more prevalent, Dr. Sussman says heâs 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.
âSkin symptoms are generally from touching it,â Dr. Sussman explained. âYou 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 youâll see wheezing, shortness of breath and asthmatic reactions. Anaphylactic symptoms generally occur with hempseed (or eating marijuana products)⌠Potentially, any anaphylactic event can be serious and life-threatening.â
One former undercover officer with the Ontario Provincial Police told ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝ that she didnât know she had a potentially deadly cannabis allergy until she first touched the plants while on the job.
âWe were doing drug eradication, so we were pulling marijuana plants from a field,â the woman, who asked not to be identified, said. âI had a reaction to the plants which Iâd never had before and my hands and forearms swelled and I got a really bad rash on them and really bad swelling⌠I wound up having to go to (an emergency room) because the swelling and the rash was so bad that I actually couldnât use my hands.â
Even inhaling second-hand marijuana smoke has sent her to hospital.
âWhat happens is I get this really sharp pain behind my left eye, itâs excruciatingly painful and itâs 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 thereâs just a vice in my chest where I canât breathe,â she said. âItâs quite scary.â
Now, carrying an EpiPen wherever she goes, the woman worries about being increasingly exposed to marijuana smoke once pot becomes legal.
âIâm not able to go to concerts,â she lamented. âAnd once itâs legalized, Iâm afraid (of) even just walking down the street.â
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.
âIf 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,â he said. âAt this point, itâs under-recognized and under-diagnosed.â
With files from ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝â medical affairs specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip