Washington Clinicians Raise Concerns Over Cannabis' Mental Health Risks

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A recent survey of 388 healthcare professionals in Washington state has revealed significant concerns among clinicians about the mental health risks associated with cannabis use. Over half of respondents expressed strong worries, with nearly 20% reporting seeing patients with cannabis-related adverse events two to three times per month. The most common issues cited were cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, cannabis-use disorder, anxiety, and psychoses. The survey also highlighted gaps in training and knowledge, with two-thirds of providers reporting limited understanding of cannabis interactions and over 40% having limited knowledge of cannabis-induced psychoses.

Why it matters

As cannabis becomes more mainstream and widely accepted, this survey underscores the critical need for healthcare providers to be better equipped to address the unintended mental health consequences of cannabis use. With a significant proportion of clinicians reporting frequent encounters with cannabis-related adverse events, there is a pressing demand for system-level changes to support providers in effectively screening, diagnosing, and treating these issues.

The details

The survey, conducted by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine, found that over 50% of the 388 doctors, nurses, and other medical experts surveyed expressed strong concerns about the mental health risks of cannabis use. Nearly 20% of respondents reported seeing patients with cannabis-related adverse health events two to three times per month. The most common conditions cited were cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, cannabis-use disorder, anxiety related to cannabis use, and psychoses or hallucinations attributed to cannabis use.

• The survey was conducted in 2026, several years after cannabis was legalized in Washington state in 2012.

What’s next

Experts suggest that addressing the gaps in training and knowledge among healthcare providers, as well as developing system-level support for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cannabis-related mental health issues, will be crucial in the coming years as cannabis use becomes more widespread.