High-Potency Cannabis Strains Impact Legal and Health Systems

LOS ANGELES— The expansion of high-potency cannabis products—such as concentrated extracts, edibles, and potent vaping liquids is increasingly challenging health-care facilities and legal systems across North America.

Emergency departments in the U.S. and Canada report rising visits due to high-THC cannabis use. Symptoms include acute psychosis, severe anxiety, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) a debilitating condition characterized by persistent vomiting in long-term users. CHS has led to serious complications like dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and even kidney damage.

Psychiatric research confirms that cannabis—especially high-THC variants—can trigger acute psychosis in susceptible individuals, with such episodes sometimes lasting days or triggering longer-term psychiatric issues. The EU‑GEI study found that first‑episode psychosis patients who used high‑potency cannabis daily showed more pronounced positive symptoms than those who did not. A large review in Lancet Psychiatry likewise associated frequent high‑potency THC use with elevated risks of addiction and psychotic disorders.

Legal systems are also experiencing strain. Courts are increasingly encountering cannabis-induced psychosis in cases of diminished responsibility. Forensic evaluations must distinguish between voluntary intoxication and persistent mental illness, complicating criminal determinations.

Regulatory efforts vary. Some states and provinces have implemented THC content limits, mandatory labeling, and age-verification protocols. Others lack coherent policy frameworks. Public health agencies and advocates advocate for harmonized regulations, clinician training, consumer education, and improved potency standards to mitigate health and legal risks .