An Estimated 7.2 Million Americans May Have Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
Among the 40+ million US adults who use cannabis daily, nearly 18% reported symptoms consistent with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome — yet only 11.5% of those with symptoms had ever been diagnosed, suggesting massive underrecognition.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among daily cannabis users (15.2% of adults, ~40 million), 17.8% reported CHS-like symptoms (severe nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain), translating to an estimated 7.2 million US adults (2.7% national prevalence). Only 11.5% of symptomatic individuals had received a CHS diagnosis from a provider.
Key Numbers
N=7,034; 15.2% daily cannabis use (~40M adults); 17.8% of daily users report CHS symptoms; ~7.2M affected (~2.7% national prevalence); only 11.5% diagnosed; symptomatic users: younger, more female, non-White, lower income, less educated
How They Did This
Nationally representative cross-sectional survey (National Firearms, Alcohol, Cannabis, and Suicide survey, 2025) of 7,034 US adults, assessing CHS symptoms, cannabis use patterns, and diagnostic history.
Why This Research Matters
CHS is frequently dismissed or misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary ER visits and costly workups — this study reveals it affects millions and is overwhelmingly underdiagnosed.
The Bigger Picture
With an estimated 7.2 million Americans affected and fewer than 12% diagnosed, CHS represents one of the most underrecognized consequences of the expanding cannabis market.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-report symptoms may overestimate CHS (other causes of nausea/vomiting not excluded); cross-sectional design; survey-based diagnosis proxy; 'daily use in past 5 years' threshold may include former daily users; preprint pending peer review.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why are 88.5% of CHS cases undiagnosed?
- ?Would provider education reduce diagnostic delays?
- ?Could product labeling warnings about CHS risk reduce incidence?
- ?Does CHS prevalence vary by consumption method?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Large nationally representative survey provides the first population-level CHS prevalence estimate, though symptom-based definition without clinical confirmation may overcount cases.
- Study Age:
- Published 2026 (preprint); 2025 survey data.
- Original Title:
- Prevalence and Correlates of Symptoms of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in the United States.
- Published In:
- medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences (2026)
- Authors:
- Ilgen, Mark A(2), Price, Amanda M, Goldman, Paula, Hicks, Brian M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08351
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
This national survey estimates that about 17.8% of daily cannabis users — approximately 7.2 million US adults — experience CHS symptoms, making it far more common than previously recognized.
Why is CHS often undiagnosed?
Only 11.5% of people with CHS-like symptoms had received a diagnosis, suggesting that both patients and providers often don't connect severe nausea and vomiting with heavy cannabis use — leading to repeated ER visits and unnecessary testing.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08351APA
Ilgen, Mark A; Price, Amanda M; Goldman, Paula; Hicks, Brian M. (2026). Prevalence and Correlates of Symptoms of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in the United States.. medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.25.26344780
MLA
Ilgen, Mark A, et al. "Prevalence and Correlates of Symptoms of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in the United States.." medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences, 2026. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.25.26344780
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Prevalence and Correlates of Symptoms of Cannabinoid Hyperem..." RTHC-08351. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ilgen-2026-prevalence-and-correlates-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.