For those above a certain age, the lingering societal stigma surrounding cannabis that persisted until two decades ago is an all too familiar memory. While many regions worldwide still consider the drug a serious problem—often reflected in severe legal punishments—there has been an undeniable and dramatic global shift in how the general population perceives cannabis use.
Nowhere is this cultural transformation more evident than in the United States, where the drug is currently legal for recreational use in 24 states. It is highly likely that far fewer people today consider it the “devil’s drug,” even those who choose not to partake themselves. In short, it is not difficult to envision a world in the coming decades where cannabis is no longer considered taboo.
And yet, despite the changing legal and cultural landscape, cannabis use is certainly not without its potential pitfalls and serious dangers. Anyone who has heard the horrifying accounts of “scromiting” can attest to that.
The Rise of Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome
The well-documented effects of THC on the human brain are varied; users can experience everything from euphoria and relaxation to episodes of anxiety, paranoia, and, in rare instances, psychosis. However, what is not nearly so well known is the agonizing reality of “scromiting.”
Over the past decade, hospitals across the U.S. have reported a disturbing surge in patients presenting with severe, relentless nausea, extreme vomiting, and abdominal pain so intense it leaves them doubled over—sometimes requiring multiple emergency room visits a year. The culprit behind this medical crisis is Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS).
CHS attacks typically manifest within 24 hours of cannabis use and can last for several days. Medical staff coined the visceral term “scromiting” because sufferers are often literally screaming in pain while simultaneously vomiting.
Dr. Chris Buresh, an emergency medicine specialist, highlights the profound difficulty in treating the condition: “There are currently no therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and standard anti-nausea medications often don’t work.”
Agony Likened to Childbirth
One patient admitted to the ER four or five times over a six-month period described his suffering in vivid, nightmarish detail. The man explained that the pain in his stomach was “burning” and “agonizing,” leaving him to vomit uncontrollably. He had attempted to treat himself with excessively hot showers—a common, if temporary, palliative behavior reported by sufferers—but by the time he decided to seek hospital care, he required morphine just to manage the intensity of the pain.
Another individual who endured “scromiting” likened the experience to childbirth, describing it as “some of the worst physical pain I’ve ever experienced in my life.” She emotionally recalled begging: “I’m just begging God, please make it stop.”
Even after the acute symptoms eventually subside, CHS can return with full severity if cannabis use is continued. According to experts, stopping cannabis use entirely remains the only guaranteed way to fully eradicate the condition.
“Because the syndrome strikes intermittently, some cannabis users assume a recent episode was unrelated and continue using — only to become severely ill again,” explains Dr. Beatriz Carlini, a research associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
A Disturbing Surge in Adolescent Cases
A comprehensive study conducted by George Washington University surveyed over 1,000 CHS patients and found a strong correlation between early and prolonged cannabis use and subsequent emergency room visits for scromiting.
The data reveals a particularly disturbing trend among adolescents: Cases of CHS in the U.S. have jumped more than tenfold from 2016 to 2023. Interestingly, while overall CHS cases were found to be more common in states where recreational cannabis is legal, the fastest rise in cases among younger users occurred in states where recreational cannabis still remains illegal.
The escalating prevalence of this agonizing, under-recognized condition serves as a sober counterpoint to the growing acceptance of cannabis, forcing a critical re-evaluation of its potential long-term dangers.
