Cyclic vomiting presentations following marijuana liberalization in Colorado

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Public Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition linked to chronic marijuana use.
• Previous case reports suggested a correlation between cyclic vomiting and marijuana consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of cyclic vomiting presentations before and after medical marijuana liberalization in Colorado (2009).
• To assess the association between marijuana use and cyclic vomiting visits post-legalization.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study analyzing emergency department visits for cyclic vomiting.
• Utilized International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, and Rome III criteria for diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Cyclic vomiting visit prevalence increased from 41 to 87 per 100,000 ED visits post-liberalization (PR=1.92).
• Patients with cyclic vomiting were more likely to have documented marijuana use after liberalization (OR=3.59).

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of cyclic vomiting nearly doubled following medical marijuana liberalization.
• Increased reporting of marijuana use in cyclic vomiting patients may be due to increased use, better reporting, or both.