Hospital visits for cannabis-induced vomiting surge after new diagnosis code

Hospital data compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal a 16% increase in emergency-room diagnoses of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome from last October through May. The condition, characterized by repeated bouts of nausea, uncontrollable vomiting and intense abdominal pain, primarily affects frequent marijuana smokers. The rise follows the introduction of a specific diagnostic code last fall, which allows more accurate identification of cases that were previously under-reported.

Analyzing records from about 7,500 facilities, researchers counted almost 200,000 syndrome-related visits between January 2023 and the summer of 2025. The most pronounced spikes were seen in patients aged 15-24, particularly teenage girls, as well as Black Americans and American Indian and Alaska Native groups. CDC author Alana Vivolo-Kantor highlighted the unexpected prevalence among younger users and urged increased public awareness and further study of potent THC and hemp-derived products.