Psychiatric and Medical Management of Marijuana Intoxication in the Emergency Department
Quan M. Bui, Scott Simpson, Kimberly Nordstrom
Western Journal of Emergency Medicine May 7, 2015 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2015.3.25284 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 34-year-old woman with marijuana intoxication |
| Duration | Two days |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | A case of cannabis-induced psychosis with hypokalemia and QT prolongation resolved over two days with supportive care. |
Abstract
We use a case report to describe the acute psychiatric and medical management of marijuana intoxication in the emergency setting. A 34-year-old woman presented with erratic, disruptive behavior and psychotic symptoms after recreational ingestion of edible cannabis. She was also found to have mild hypokalemia and QT interval prolongation. Psychiatric management of cannabis psychosis involves symptomatic treatment and maintenance of safety during detoxification. Acute medical complications of marijuana use are primarily cardiovascular and respiratory in nature; electrolyte and electrocardiogram monitoring is indicated. This patient’s psychosis, hypokalemia and prolonged QTc interval resolved over two days with supportive treatment and minimal intervention in the emergency department. Patients with cannabis psychosis are at risk for further psychotic sequelae. Emergency providers may reduce this risk through appropriate diagnosis, acute treatment, and referral for outpatient care. [West J Emerg Med. 2015;16(3):414–417.]
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Cannabis‐induced Koro in Americans American men aged 22-26 with years of cannabis experience who reported negative... | 2001 | Case series | n = 3 |
| “Hallucinations” Following Acute Cannabis Dosing: A Case Report and Comparison to Other Hallucinogenic Drugs Healthy 30-year-old male | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: A literature review and three case reports Patients with hallucinogen persisting perception disorder | 2018 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Cannabis Psychosis in Young Psychiatric Inpatients Consecutive psychiatric hospital admissions of patients aged 35 and under | 1986 | Case study | n = 25 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Comparison between pediatric and adult acute natural cannabinoids toxicity: A 5-year retrospective study with special consideration of acute synthetic cannabinoids toxicity. Toxicology Reports June 1, 2025
- Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Gradual Onset Cannabis-Induced Psychosis Following the Consumption of Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol Cureus March 1, 2024
- Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edibles November 15, 2016
Cites 3
- Gone to Pot – A Review of the Association between Cannabis and Psychosis Frontiers in Psychiatry May 22, 2014
- Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases The British Journal of Psychiatry November 30, 2005
- Two cases of "cannabis acute psychosis" following the administration of oral cannabis BMC Psychiatry December 1, 2005