Frequent marijuana users are increasingly turning up in emergency rooms with a condition that causes severe bouts of nausea and vomiting, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The condition, known as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), is associated with habitual use of marijuana. Researchers said emergency room visits involving CHS were recorded at higher rates after the condition received its own diagnosis code in October, likely revealing cases that went previously undiagnosed.

"The abruptness and sustained magnitude of the increase likely reflects, at least in part, improved clinical recognition and coding of CHS rather than a true and immediate rise in incidence," they wrote.

The rate of hospital emergency room diagnoses of CHS jumped 16 percent from last October to May 2026, according to researchers, with nearly 200,000 CHS-related emergency room visits identified between January 2023 and May 2026.

Prior to the change in October, doctors did not have a specific diagnosis code for CHS. The condition was instead identified using codes for vomiting alongside cannabis-related illnesses that could be mistaken for other gastrointestinal issues.

An estimated 2.75 million Americans suffer from the condition each year, and past research shows more emergency room visits have occurred as recreational marijuana use increases.

CHS was present at particularly high rates among younger people, with those ages 15 to 24 having the highest rate from October through May, at 38.7 visits per 10,000 emergency room visits, followed by those ages 25 to 34.

The CDC said earlier exposure to marijuana and different methods of consuming it — including vaping and dabbing — could help explain the high rates among younger patients.

The agency called for greater awareness of CHS among doctors and the public and is pushing for additional research into the potential role of high-potency THC and hemp-derived products.

"Monitoring trends across demographic groups and geographic areas can help identify populations at greatest risk and guide tailored prevention and intervention strategies," the researchers added.

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