WASHINGTON (July 21, 2025)--A new study found that US emergency department visits for a syndrome associated with marijuana use among adolescents has spiked in recent years. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome causes severe episodes of uncontrollable vomiting in chronic users, according to a media report about the research.
The researchers reported that emergency department visits for this syndrome increased more than 10-fold and increases were seen regardless of whether the state had legalized recreational marijuana use.
Andrew Meltzer, a professor of emergency medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, is available to comment on the syndrome. Meltzer published a study earlier this year that found that this syndrome represents a costly and largely hidden public health problem.
He says most users of the drug don’t realize that their marijuana habit causes the recurring episodes that often result in costly trips to the emergency room. In addition, Meltzer warns that users who start regularly using cannabis at an early age are at higher risk for developing the syndrome. He also says that the only way to prevent the cyclic episodes of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting is to stop using cannabis.
Watch a video of Andrew Meltzer talking about his study.
To schedule an interview with Andrew Meltzer, please contact Kathy Fackelmann, kfackelmann
gwu [dot] edu
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