ER Visits for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Doubled in Nevada After Recreational Cannabis Sales
Emergency department visits for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in Nevada roughly doubled after recreational cannabis commercialization in 2017, rising from about 1.1 to 2.2 per 100,000 population.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Emergency department visits for CHS increased continuously from 2013 to 2021. The rate was 1.07 per 100,000 before recreational cannabis commercialization and jumped to 2.22 per 100,000 after commercialization in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of approximately 1.1 per 100,000. CHS patients were younger and included fewer males compared to other ED visitors.
Key Numbers
Pre-commercialization rate: 1.07 per 100,000. Post-commercialization rate: 2.22 per 100,000. Increase: approximately 1.1 per 100,000. Study period: 2013-2021. CHS patients were younger and had fewer males than non-CHS ED patients.
How They Did This
Interrupted time series analysis using Nevada State Emergency Department Databases (2013-2021). CHS patients were compared to all other ED visitors. The impact of recreational cannabis commercialization (Q3 2017) was estimated as the intervention point.
Why This Research Matters
This provides direct evidence linking recreational cannabis commercialization to a measurable increase in a specific health outcome. CHS is entirely attributable to cannabis use, making it a clean indicator of the health burden associated with expanded access.
The Bigger Picture
CHS ER visits serve as a canary in the coal mine for cannabis-related health system burden. The doubling in Nevada adds to similar findings in Colorado, Washington, and other legalized states, suggesting this is a consistent consequence of commercialization.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
ICD-code-based identification may undercount CHS cases, especially before the condition became well-recognized. The time series cannot prove commercialization caused the increase, as awareness and diagnosis of CHS also improved during this period. Limited to Nevada.
Questions This Raises
- ?How much of the increase reflects true incidence vs improved recognition?
- ?What is the CHS rate in states with longer legalization histories?
- ?Are certain cannabis products (concentrates, edibles) more likely to cause CHS?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CHS ER visits doubled after recreational cannabis commercialization
- Evidence Grade:
- Strong interrupted time series design using population-level data, though coding accuracy and diagnostic awareness changes are potential confounders.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study using 2013-2021 data
- Original Title:
- Trends of emergency department visits for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in Nevada: An interrupted time series analysis.
- Published In:
- PloS one, 19(5), e0303205 (2024)
- Authors:
- Soh, Jaeseung, Kim, Yonsu, Shen, Jay, Kang, Mingon, Chaudhry, Stefan, Chung, Tae Ha, Kim, Seo Hyun, Hwang, Yena, Lim, Daniel, Khattak, Adam, Frimer, Leora, Yoo, Ji Won
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05724
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did recreational cannabis legalization increase ER visits for CHS?
In Nevada, ER visits for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome roughly doubled after recreational cannabis sales began in 2017, though improved diagnostic awareness may also contribute.
How common are CHS emergency visits?
In Nevada post-commercialization, the rate was about 2.22 per 100,000 population. CHS patients tended to be younger than other ER visitors.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05724APA
Soh, Jaeseung; Kim, Yonsu; Shen, Jay; Kang, Mingon; Chaudhry, Stefan; Chung, Tae Ha; Kim, Seo Hyun; Hwang, Yena; Lim, Daniel; Khattak, Adam; Frimer, Leora; Yoo, Ji Won. (2024). Trends of emergency department visits for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in Nevada: An interrupted time series analysis.. PloS one, 19(5), e0303205. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303205
MLA
Soh, Jaeseung, et al. "Trends of emergency department visits for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in Nevada: An interrupted time series analysis.." PloS one, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303205
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Trends of emergency department visits for cannabinoid hypere..." RTHC-05724. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/soh-2024-trends-of-emergency-department
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.