Camilla Jessen
Why some cannabis users are landing in ERs with severe vomiting.
A growing number of regular cannabis users in the U.S. are coming forward with accounts of a severe and little-known disorder linked to long-term marijuana use.
The condition, now officially recognized by global health authorities, has led some people to hospital with pain so intense they describe it as unbearable.
Troubling symptoms
As of 2023, roughly 17% of Americans reported using cannabis, with 24 states legalizing recreational use.
But while the drug is widely used for its therapeutic and recreational effects, doctors are increasingly treating patients who present with repeated vomiting, severe abdominal pain and dehydration.
The pattern has been identified as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a disorder seen primarily in people who use cannabis daily or near-daily over long periods.
UW Medicine says symptoms often appear within 24 hours of the most recent use and can persist for days.
The syndrome is sometimes nicknamed “scromiting,” a blend of “screaming” and “vomiting,” due to the intensity of the episodes.
Users speak out
Many who have experienced CHS have shared their stories online.
One TikTok user described the onset as “the worst physical pain I’ve ever experienced… and I birthed a 9-pound baby.”
Another said she “almost died,” explaining she couldn’t keep food or water down for a week.
Despite the episodes, some users admitted they continued smoking, which only worsened the symptoms. One woman, now six months sober, said quitting was the only way to stop the cycle.
“Smoking nearly killed me,” she said.
Medical uncertainty
Doctors still do not fully understand why the condition occurs.
The Cleveland Clinic says one leading theory is that chronic use overstimulates cannabinoid receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, disrupting normal digestive regulation.
The World Health Organization has listed CHS in its International Classification of Diseases, allowing clinicians to formally track cases for the first time.
Researchers say the new designation will provide more reliable data on cannabis-related health problems.
Calls for more awareness
Beatriz Carlini of the University of Washington School of Medicine said the classification will help quantify a growing issue.
“A new code for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome will supply important hard evidence on cannabis-adverse events,” she noted.
Sources: UW Medicine; Cleveland Clinic; WHO ICD, Unilad
