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Saturday, April 20, or 4/20, is known to many as a day for 

 and its consumption. It is also the first 4/20 since recreational cannabis use was 

, going into effect last August. With this in mind, we looked at recently published research into cannabis use in Minnesota.  

a study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health

 published this past January, pre-legalization cannabis use among Minnesotans is relatively on par with the national average. The study uses 2018-2019 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the latest state-level data available, and found:  

It remains to be seen how these cannabis rates shift in Minnesota once we have data from after its legalization. But a reminder to remain vigilant with cannabis, especially around children. 

, over 50 children age 10 or younger, and another 100 in the 11-14 age range, ended up in U.S. emergency rooms every week, as of 2022, due to intentional and unintentional cannabis consumption.   

Respiratory & infectious diseases are down — but seasonal allergies may have you sneezing!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 

one-quarter of all U.S. adults have seasonal allergies

 show tree pollen in the high range everywhere from Fargo and Duluth to Worthington and Rochester. 

Infectious respiratory diseases, however, continue to wane in Minnesota. 

Graph of weekly hospitalization rates form flu, COVID-19 and RSV in Minnesota

Hospital admissions due to influenza are finally dropping in Minnesota. After averaging nearly 250 hospital admissions per week since mid-December, the count fell to 212 in the week ending March 23 and then 163 for the final week of March.  

Hospitalizations due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 leveled off a bit in the most recent week or two after steady declines ever since their recent peaks in late December.  

New measles cases reported in U.S. but not in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Health has not reported any new cases of measles in the state since 

the third case this year was reported back in February

 of the highly infectious disease since just two weeks ago, bringing the yearly total to 121 and already tying 2024 with 2022 as the highest year of U.S. measles infection since 2019, when 1,274 cases were identified.

COVID-19 vaccinations are inching up, and so are the recent COVID-19 wastewater levels

, released by the Minnesota Department of Health on Thursday, shows that only three percent of those most vulnerable to hospitalization due to COVID-19, those age 65 or older, are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. 

This is an increase of two percentage points from last month, when the vaccination data first reflected a new definition of “up to date,” factoring in the CDC’s latest recommendation that older adults (and those with compromised immune systems) seek a second dose of the newest COVID-19 vaccine formula. 

Graph of COVID-19 vaccination rates in Minnesota, by age

COVID-19 levels in Minnesota wastewater increased 15 percent statewide over the prior week, as of April 10, according to the latest data from 

the University of Minnesota’s on-going Wastewater Surveillance Study

Recent increases in statewide wastewater levels reverse the decline we had seen since mid-March, but the current level is still a 10 percent decrease from the statewide level recorded one month ago.  

Graph showing percent change in COVID-19 levels in wastewater plants by region and state as a whole

Over the last two weeks, the study’s South Central and South West regions have seen the largest increases in wastewater levels. 

As of April 3, the south central region had a weekly increase of 141 percent, and the south west region had a weekly increase of 86 percent. Those increases were followed by upticks of 59 and 60 percent, respectively.  

Looking back four weeks, the north west region had an increase of 111 percent and COVID levels increased in the south west region by 103 percent. Both regions, however, have seen longer-term decreases. 

While these recent increases in COVID-19 as measured in wastewater are still relatively minor, it is worthwhile to keep watching. 

Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of Scripps Research Triangle Institute, acknowledges in 

 that newly arriving variants have some researchers forecasting an uptick in COVID-19 activity in coming months. 

He does not think there is a high risk in the short term, but does conclude with the reminder, “High-risk people should continue to take precautions, keeping up with boosters, and all forms of protection.” 

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Craig Helmstetter

Pre-legalization cannabis use in Minnesota was on par with the national average according to a study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Hospitalizations from infectious respiratory diseases continue to wane in Minnesota. 

Strains of recreational cannabis in jars with labels

Cannabis, sneezes and a welcome decline in respiratory diseases

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