Cannabis-related healthcare encounters among commercially insured US adults nearly doubled from 2017 to 2022, driven mainly by outpatient and emergency department visits.
Public health professionals, healthcare administrators, policy researchers, and anyone interested in the healthcare impact of changing cannabis use patterns.
71% increase in cannabis healthcare encounters (2017-2022)
What the researchers found
Among 115 million eligible individuals, cannabis-related healthcare encounter rates increased from 44.0 to 75.1 per 10,000 person-years between 2017 and 2022 (p=0.01). The increase occurred across all age groups and was driven by outpatient and emergency department encounters. Surprisingly, differences by state cannabis legal status were not identified.
Why it matters
This is the largest study of cannabis-related healthcare utilization among working-age adults. The finding that encounter rates increased regardless of state legal status challenges the assumption that legalization is the primary driver of cannabis-related healthcare burden.
The numbers in context
115,187,493 eligible individuals. 963,345 (0.8%) had cannabis-related encounters. 5,601,233 total encounters. Rate increased from 44.0 to 75.1 per 10,000 person-years (71% increase). Trend was significant (p=0.01).
How the study worked
Descriptive study using administrative claims from four national health insurers contributing to the FDA Sentinel Distributed Database. Cannabis-related encounters were identified using ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes from 2017 to 2022.
What this study cannot tell us
Administrative claims data may undercount cannabis-related encounters due to coding practices. Only commercially insured adults were included, excluding Medicaid, uninsured, and Medicare populations. ICD-10 codes may not capture all cannabis-related healthcare use.
How to read the evidence
Very large administrative database (115 million individuals) from the FDA Sentinel system, though limited by coding accuracy and commercially insured population only.
When this study was published
2026 study analyzing 2017-2022 claims data.
The bigger picture
Rising cannabis-related healthcare encounters reflect a combination of increased use, higher potency products, reduced stigma, and potentially better clinical documentation. The lack of difference by legal status suggests broader cultural and market forces beyond state-level legalization.
Questions still open
- Why did encounter rates rise similarly regardless of state legal status? Are the rising encounters primarily driven by higher-potency products, increased use, or better documentation?
Common questions
Are more people going to the ER for cannabis?
Did legalization cause the increase?
Read the original research
Cannabis-Related Healthcare Encounters Among U.S. Commercially Insured Adults.
American journal of preventive medicine, 70(3), 107936
Citation
Perez-Vilar, Silvia; Adimadhyam, Sruthi; Burk, Jillian; Radin, Rose; Fung, Eric N; Spahiu, Viola; Brisbane, Gifty; Shebl, Fatma M; Greene, Christina; Epperson, Meredith; Hernández-Muñoz, José J; Shinde, Mayura; Graham, David J. (2026). Cannabis-Related Healthcare Encounters Among U.S. Commercially Insured Adults.. American journal of preventive medicine, 70(3), 107936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2025.107936
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