University of Washington researchers surveyed nearly 400 doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in Washington between December 2024 and March 2025 to learn about cannabis-related conditions they see in patients.

Beatriz Carlini, the lead author and research associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the UW School of Medicine, published the results of the 20-question survey in the Substance Use and Addiction Journal on Monday, March 30.

“Health care providers are noticing, and concerned about, cannabis adverse events,” Carlini told the UW Medicine newsroom. “It’s also interesting that we could find no other research papers where clinicians in the United States are asked about treating cannabis-related adverse conditions. Their voices have not been heard on this topic before now.”

Four conditions were most concerning to the respondents, the newsroom reported:

Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome: 70% of clinicians reported treating patients experiencing repeated cycles of nausea and severe vomiting

Cannabis-use disorder: 65% of respondents identified patients showing signs of addiction or dependency 

Anxiety: 63% of respondents identified patients with cannabis use-related anxiety

Psychoses or hallucinations: 53% of respondents identified patients with psychoses and hallucinations attributed to cannabis use; 34% called this out as the most serious adverse event they see.

Nearly 75% of the respondents said they want more training for how to screen and manage cannabis-related health risks, with 65.9% reporting they have slight or no knowledge of how cannabis interacts with other medications. 

“This reflects a systemwide lack of response to a drug that has become more potent and more available. There has been no capacity-building to properly respond in the healthcare setting,” Carlini told the UW Medicine newsroom.