Victoria sees 49% rise in cannabis-related hospital stays, driven by psychosis

Researchers at Monash University examined 40,000 admissions in Victoria and reported a 49% surge in hospital stays tied to cannabis use over the last ten years. Psychotic disorders were the leading primary diagnosis, comprising 40% of cases, followed by harmful cannabis use at 15.2%. More than 1,500 patients required intensive care, and the typical stay lasted about a week.

Admissions among women and girls jumped 75%, compared with a 35% rise for men, reflecting growing use among females. The study noted pronounced spikes in 2017/18 and 2020/21, periods that overlapped with pandemic lockdowns, suggesting mental-health stressors may have amplified both consumption and hospital demand. The findings highlight mounting pressure on Victoria’s health system and call for targeted public-health interventions.