More potent and legal cannabis sends some to hospital: Central NY leads state in ER visits

July 7, 2025

Cannabis injuries addressed by Upstate Medical doctor
Dr. Deborah Mann, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Upstate Medical University, has seen scores of people in the ER after consuming too much cannabis. Photo taken on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com)N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com

Syracuse, NY – Since New York legalized recreational cannabis, emergency rooms are treating thousands more people for endless vomiting, a racing heart and belief they are dying.

Cannabis-related ER visits statewide topped 135,000 in 2023, nearly double the cases from before legalization two years earlier.

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