Cannabis Hyperemesis Hospitalizations Rose After Massachusetts Legalization
CHS hospitalizations increased fivefold after cannabis legalization in Massachusetts, with longer stays and costs more than doubling per admission.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CHS hospitalizations rose from 0.02% to 0.1% of total admissions after legalization. Length of stay tripled (1 to 3 days), antiemetic use increased, and mean hospitalization cost more than doubled ($8,520 to $18,714 after adjusting for inflation).
Key Numbers
72 CHS hospitalizations. Length of stay: 3 vs 1 day (p<0.005). Cost: $18,714 vs $7,460 (p<0.0005). Post-legalization predicted increased costs (B=10,131.25, p<0.05).
How They Did This
Retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to a large urban hospital between 2012 and 2021, comparing periods before and after Massachusetts cannabis legalization (December 15, 2016). Examined 72 CHS hospitalizations.
Why This Research Matters
CHS is a growing clinical and economic burden that is often underrecognized. As legalization expands, hospitals and policymakers need to account for rising CHS-related costs.
The Bigger Picture
CHS represents a direct, measurable healthcare cost of cannabis legalization. The fivefold increase in admissions and doubling of per-case costs should inform health economic models used in legalization policy debates.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single hospital in one city. "Putative" CHS diagnoses may include misclassified cases. Small total number (72). Cannot determine if increase reflects incidence growth or better recognition.
Questions This Raises
- ?How much of the increase reflects better recognition versus true incidence growth?
- ?Would earlier outpatient CHS management reduce hospitalization rates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CHS hospital costs rose from $8,520 to $18,714 per admission after legalization
- Evidence Grade:
- Retrospective cohort from a single hospital with small numbers, but clear pre/post comparison with adjusted cost analysis.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024 with data from 2012-2021.
- Original Title:
- Rising Inpatient Utilization and Costs of Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Hospitalizations in Massachusetts After Cannabis Legalization.
- Published In:
- Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 58(3), 247-252 (2024)
- Authors:
- Marshall, Allison, Fai, Caitlin, Han, John, Yule, Amy M, Jangi, Sushrut
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05520
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did cannabis legalization increase CHS hospitalizations?
In this Massachusetts hospital, CHS admissions increased fivefold after legalization, though better recognition may partly explain the increase.
How much does a CHS hospitalization cost?
After legalization, the average CHS hospitalization cost $18,714, more than double the pre-legalization average even after adjusting for inflation.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05520APA
Marshall, Allison; Fai, Caitlin; Han, John; Yule, Amy M; Jangi, Sushrut. (2024). Rising Inpatient Utilization and Costs of Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Hospitalizations in Massachusetts After Cannabis Legalization.. Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 58(3), 247-252. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000001857
MLA
Marshall, Allison, et al. "Rising Inpatient Utilization and Costs of Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Hospitalizations in Massachusetts After Cannabis Legalization.." Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000001857
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Rising Inpatient Utilization and Costs of Cannabis Hyperemes..." RTHC-05520. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/marshall-2024-rising-inpatient-utilization-and
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.