Table 1

Demographic and injury characteristics of patients with trauma before and after legalization of cannabis and for both time frames combined

CharacteristicNo. (%) of patients*
Before legalization†
n = 210		After legalization‡
n = 141		Overall
n = 351
Age, mean ± SD, yr49.6 ± 20.551.1 ± 20.750.2 ± 20.5
Male sex148 (70.5)99 (70.2)247 (70.4)
Mechanism of injury
 Motor vehicle collision101 (48.1)67 (47.5)168 (47.9)
 Fall46 (21.9)41 (29.1)87 (24.8)
 Recreational vehicle10 (4.8)1 (0.7)11 (3.1)
 Other blunt4 (1.9)8 (5.7)12 (3.4)
 Penetrating21 (10.0)13 (9.2)34 (9.7)
 Other28 (13.3)11 (7.8)39 (11.1)
Injury Severity Score, mean ± SD17.6 ± 13.019.7 ± 14.818.4 ± 13.7
Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale score, mean ± SD
 Head2.9 ± 1.53.0 ± 1.42.9 ± 1.4
 Face1.4 ± 0.61.4 ± 0.51.4 ± 0.6
 Neck1.5 ± 0.82.3 ± 1.02.0 ± 1.0
 Thorax2.9 ± 1.13.0 ± 0.92.9 ± 1.0
 Abdomen2.0 ± 1.12.3 ± 1.02.1 ± 1.1
 Upper extremity2.3 ± 0.62.3 ± 0.62.3 ± 0.6
 Lower extremity2.1 ± 1.12.0 ± 1.02.0 ± 1.0
 External1.0 ± 0.01.0 ± 0.01.0 ± 0.0
 Other§4.0 ± 1.72.03.5 ± 1.7

  • SD = standard deviation.

  • ↵* Except where noted otherwise.

  • ↵† July 1 to Sept. 30, 2018.

  • ↵‡ Nov. 1, 2018, to Jan. 31, 2019.

  • ↵§ Hypothermia, multiple contusions to entire body, asphyxiation with cardiac arrest.

  • ↵ n = 1.