This study looked at almost 40,000 cannabis-related hospital admissions in Victoria between 2013 and 2023.

Admissions peaked during the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Cannabis-related psychosis was the main driver across the decade, accounting for 40.1% of hospitalisations where cannabis was the main reason. Poisoning made up less than 12% of cases.

These weren’t quick visits. Most patients (68%) stayed in hospital for longer than 24 hours, with the average stay lasting a week for all cases involving cannabis. This suggests these cases were serious. More than 1,500 people required admission to an intensive care unit (ICU).

Males aged 15–24 still represent the largest total group hospitalised. But our study showed the largest increase over the decade was in younger women and adults aged 65 and older.

…some studies suggest other states have higher rates of cannabis use.

Nationally, cannabis remains one of the top illicit drugs leading to a hospital admission, outpacing illicit opioids.

International data shows a similar trend. When legal access expands via profit-driven commercial models, cannabis-related psychosis hospitalisations tend to rise.

Our findings that the largest increase in cannabis-related hospitalisations was in younger women and older adults has wider implications.

Public health initiatives don’t necessarily focus on these groups.