Psychotic Disorder and Cannabis Use: Canadian Hospitalization Trends, 2006–2015 [Report in Short]

Examines hospitalization trends related to cannabis use and mental and behavioural disorders between 2006 and 2015. During this period, the rate of hospitalizations related to cannabis use and mental and behavioural disorders more than doubled and the rate of hospitalizations specific to cannabis-related psychotic disorder tripled. This research supports monitoring the impacts of cannabis legalization and regulation.

Key findings include:

• Two-thirds of those hospitalized were male and approximately half were aged 15–24.
• Hospitalizations for psychotic disorder related to cannabis use accounted for one-third of mental or behavioural disorders between 2006–2015, increasing more than 25 per cent during this time.
• Education about the risks associated with cannabis use and ways to reduce those risks, such as following the lower-risk cannabis use guidelines, is important.