Cannabis Hyperemesis: Why More Cases Are Being Detected?

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is drawing attention to cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a condition that can cause repeated episodes of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Between January 2023 and May 2026, emergency departments recorded nearly 200,000 visits involving CHS. But there is an important detail behind the increase in these numbers: in october 2025, CHS received its own diagnosis code, making it much easier for doctors and hospitals to identify and record the condition.

That means the rise in reported cases does not necessarily mean that cannabis suddenly started causing more episodes of vomiting. Instead, some of the increase may reflect a condition that was previously harder to identify.

In This Article

What is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome?

Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is a pattern of repeated nausea and vomiting associated with frequent cannabis use. Abdominal pain is also common, and severe episodes can lead to dehydration and other complications that require emergency treatment.

The condition is paradoxical because cannabis can relieve nausea, yet frequent use can have the opposite effect in people who develop CHS. Cannabis is also used medically to manage a range of conditions, but medical use does not rule out the possibility of developing CHS.

The condition is usually associated with frequent, long-term cannabis use. However, it may develop earlier than previously believed, with some evidence suggesting that symptoms can appear within the first year of regular use.

Why was CHS difficult to identify?

Until recently, there was no specific diagnosis code for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. Doctors looking for possible cases had to rely on other codes for vomiting and cannabis-related conditions, which made the syndrome harder to track.

That changed on October 1, 2025, when a specific code for CHS was introduced. After that point, the number of emergency department visits recorded as involving CHS increased substantially.

Before the new code, there were about 3.2 CHS-related visits for every 10,000 emergency department visits. Afterward, the rate was about 12 per 10,000. The CDC believes that better recognition and documentation explain at least part of this difference.

The new numbers are therefore useful for understanding how often CHS is reaching emergency care, but they should not be interpreted as proof that the actual number of people developing the condition suddenly quadrupled.

What does CHS feel like?

The main symptoms are repeated episodes of intense nausea and vomiting, often accompanied by abdominal pain. Someone may feel relatively well between episodes and then become severely ill again.

One feature that can help point to CHS is the tendency to take very hot showers or baths to relieve nausea and abdominal discomfort. This behavior is particularly common among people with the syndrome, with a 2017 systematic review finding symptom relief from hot bathing in 92.3% of cases in which it was reported. Although hot bathing is not unique to CHS and cannot confirm the diagnosis on its own, it can be a useful clue when combined with frequent cannabis use and recurrent vomiting.

Because these symptoms can have many possible causes, people with CHS may initially be evaluated or treated for other gastrointestinal problems. A history of regular cannabis use can help doctors consider CHS as one possible explanation.

Does stronger cannabis increase the risk?

The CDC report also raises questions about changes in cannabis products and patterns of use. Some products now contain much higher concentrations of THC than cannabis products available in the past, and concentrates and other high-potency products are widely available.

However, the CDC does not say that stronger cannabis directly causes CHS. Frequent cannabis use is the main risk factor identified in the report, while the relationship between potency and CHS remains unclear.

People who use higher-potency products may also use cannabis more frequently, which makes it difficult to separate the effects of potency from the effects of frequent use. More research is needed to determine whether potency, product type, or the way cannabis is consumed changes the risk of CHS.

How is cannabis hyperemesis treated?

During a severe episode, treatment focuses on controlling vomiting and correcting dehydration or electrolyte problems. Some patients need intravenous fluids and other emergency care.

The most important step for preventing further episodes is stopping cannabis use. Symptoms generally improve after cannabis is discontinued, while continuing to use cannabis can lead to more episodes.

For someone who uses cannabis to manage pain, nausea, sleep problems, or another medical condition, stopping may not be as simple as avoiding recreational use. In that situation, the underlying condition also needs to be addressed, and a healthcare professional can help determine whether another treatment is appropriate.

What does the new report tell us?

The CDC report gives doctors a better way to recognize and track cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. The sharp increase in recorded cases after the new diagnosis code was introduced suggests that CHS was probably being missed in emergency department data before 2025.

It also means that future data may give us a clearer picture of how common the condition really is and whether changes in cannabis products and patterns of use are affecting its occurrence.

For now, the main message is fairly simple: frequent cannabis use can be associated with recurrent episodes of severe vomiting, and CHS should be considered when those episodes keep coming back without another clear explanation.

References ▼

• JAMA – Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
• CDC – Trends in Emergency Department Visits Involving Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Identified Using a New Diagnosis Code — United States, January 2023–May 2026
• Annals of gastroenterology – Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome: an update on the pathophysiology and management