Changes in Emergency Department Visits for Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Following Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Subsequent Commercialization in Ontario, Canada

Source:

Myran DT, Roberts R, Pugliese M, Taljaard M, Tanuseputro P, Pacula RL. Changes in Emergency Department Visits for Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Following Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Subsequent Commercialization in Ontario, Canada. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(9):e2231937. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.31937

Key Points

Question  Have emergency department (ED) visits for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) changed after cannabis legalization and the subsequent commercialization (ie, store and product expansion) of the cannabis retail market in Ontario, Canada?

Findings  In this cross-sectional study including 12 866 ED visits for CHS from 8140 individuals, rates of CHS ED visits increased by 13-fold over 7.5 years. Legalization was not associated with increased CHS visits, but market commercialization, which overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic, was.

Meaning  These findings suggest that commercialization of cannabis markets may be a driving factor of increased CHS ED visits in Ontario; therefore, health care practitioners should be aware of CHS symptoms and treatment.