County Fair Chocolate Scare: An Investigation of Unintentional Marijuana Ingestion Case Study

County Fair Chocolate Scare: An Investigation of Unintentional Marijuana Ingestion Case Study

This is an intermediate case study based on an outbreak caused by the unintentional ingestion of cannabis-infused foods (edibles) at a county fair in Colorado.

Learning Objectives

  • Give an example of an unintentional marijuana exposure.
  • Name agencies that may be involved in an unintentional marijuana exposure
    investigation.
  • List available resources that address marijuana exposure.
  • Formulate interview questions for an unintentional marijuana exposure investigation.
  • Establish a case definition for marijuana exposure. 
  • List special considerations that should be made during an environmental assessment of
    a marijuana facility.
  • Recommend control measures to prevent unintentional marijuana exposure in the future.

 

Format & Time Commitment

This case study is designed to be discussed in-person or via bi-directional video with a small
group (up to 15 participants) led by an instructor or facilitator with experience investigating
foodborne outbreaks. We recommend allowing 2 hours to complete the case study.

Required materials may include pens, paper, a whiteboard, and calculators. Some activities
would benefit from having internet access. 

Prerequisites & Audience

Participants should have a basic knowledge of epidemiologic concepts and methods. This activity is designed to facilitate a discussion among epidemiologists and other public health professionals about how to respond to an outbreak involving a marijuana-infused food.

Training Materials

Instructor Guide

Student Guide

Tabletop Slides