What’s New in Psychology?

Daily Cannabis Use Linked to Painful Syndrome    

Jim Windell

            Although cannabis is still an illegal drug on the federal level in the U.S., an estimated 61.9 million people use it on a regular basis. All but four states allow some type of cannabis use and as of last year there were more than 12,000 cannabis dispensaries in this country.

            However, despite the increasing popularity of edible cannabis products, cannabis use may have a wide range of health effects on the body and brain.

            A new study that comes out of George Washington University analyzes the disease burden and the risk factors for severity among people who suffer from a condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). This condition occurs in people who are long-term regular consumers of cannabis and it causes nausea, uncontrollable vomiting and excruciating pain in a cyclical pattern that often leads to repeated trips to the hospital.

            Lead researcher for the study Andrew Meltzer, who is professor of emergency medicine at the George Washington School of Medicine & Health Sciences, says that this is one of the first large studies to examine the burden of disease associated with this cannabis-linked syndrome. “Our findings suggest that cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome could represent a costly and largely hidden public health problem,” Meltzer says.

           While the exact prevalence of CHS is unknown, many experts say that the condition is on the rise as the number of daily or near daily users of cannabis has increased in the U.S. However, to assess the burden of disease, Meltzer and his colleagues conducted a survey of 1,052 people who report suffering from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. The researchers asked questions about frequency of use, duration of the habit, the age they started using the drug, and need for emergency department or hospital care. 

           Among the key findings of the study are that 85% reported at least one emergency department visit and 44% reported at least one hospitalization associated with the hyperemesis symptoms. Also, early age of cannabis initiation was associated with higher odds of emergency department visits. In addition, daily use of cannabis before the onset of the syndrome was nearly universal, with over 40% of respondents reporting they used marijuana more than 5 times a day. Finally, prolonged use was common with 44% reporting using regularly for more than 5 years before onset of the syndrome.

           The report of the study, published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, suggests that the condition may impose a heavy burden on individuals who suffer from it as it often results in pain, vomiting and costly trips to the hospital. Emergency room doctors can stabilize the patient and help alleviate the acute symptoms but the only known way to stop the episodes of excruciating abdominal pain and repeated vomiting is to stop using cannabis.

           Although this study had some limitations, including self-reported use of cannabis, Meltzer says it suggests a substantial risk of this painful and costly condition, especially for users who begin daily use of cannabis as adolescents. He says more research is needed to understand why some people suffer from the condition after prolonged cannabis exposure and others do not. In addition, it is unclear why cannabis changes from a drug that has been known to ease nausea and vomiting, especially among patients undergoing chemotherapy, to causing nausea and vomiting in a subset of people. 

           Meltzer says it is important for clinicians to advise those with frequent cannabinoid use or hyperemesis about the risks and subsequent disease burden. He says many patients don’t realize that CHS is connected with their use of cannabis. Physicians should explain that and advise patients on resources to help them quit, he says.

           To read the original article, find it with this reference:

Meltzer, A. C., Morrison, C., Loganathan, A., Shahamatdar, S., Moon, A., Heidish, R., ... & Cooper, Z. D. (2025). Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Is Associated With High Disease Burden: An Internet-Based Survey. Annals of Emergency Medicine.