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Alan Khadavi, MD, APC
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Phone: 818-528-7776

April 1, 2015 by Alan Khadavi

Marijuana Allergy

Marijuana allergy has been on the rise over recent years.  Reports of marijuana allergy reactions range from sneezing and rashes to anaphylaxis as reported in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.  Most people are familiar to pollinating plants causing allergy symptoms, most commonly tree, grasses and of course weed pollen.  So it should be no surprise that a plant such as marijuana could also cause allergy symptoms.

Allergists across the country have been seeing this on the rise in practice over the years.  With the increased exposure and availability of marijuana, there will be increasing sensitization.  Patients who have other allergies are more susceptible to having a marijuana allergy.

Allergy doctors are unsure what the exact allergen is that is causing marijuana allergy, it could be the pollen, THC or another compound in the marijuana plant Cannabis sativa.  More likely, different people will react to different compounds causing marijuana allergy.

Being illegal in many states, makes it hard to study marijuana allergy.  The more common way to confirm an allergy to marijuana is an allergy skin test which can be performed by an allergist in the office, but it is not so simple in states where it is illegal.  There is no blood test that is commercially available.  If you suspect marijuana allergy, speak to your allergy doctor if they can perform the skin test.  Other ways that it can be diagnosed is by taking a thorough history.

The best treatment if you have marijuana allergy is avoidance.  There is currently no desensitization for it.  For those who can not avoid it, such as people who work in a marijuana factory, there are many medications that your doctor can prescribe to try and alleviate allergy reactions.  Although if you are allergic to it and work in that field, it may be best to find another profession or avoid the factory plants all together.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Headlines

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