Doctors are sounding the alarm after a shocking side effect of cannabis use has been sending users to emergency rooms in large numbers—a condition so intense that it has been nicknamed “scromiting.”
It may sound like a joke, but the reality is terrifying.
Over the past decade, hospitals have seen an increase in patients suffering from severe nausea, relentless vomiting, and stomach pain so extreme that it leaves them doubled over—sometimes multiple times a year.
The culprit? Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS).
“A person often will have multiple [emergency department] visits until it is correctly recognized, costing thousands of dollars each time,” says Dr. Beatriz Carlini, a research associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Symptoms So Brutal They Scream—Literally
CHS attacks usually appear within 24 hours of cannabis use and can last for days.
Medical staff have coined the term scromiting because sufferers may scream while vomiting.
Dr. Chris Buresh, an emergency medicine specialist, explains why the condition can be difficult to treat:
“There are currently no therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and standard anti-nausea medications often don’t work.”
Doctors sometimes turn to unusual remedies, ranging from hot baths and showers to applying capsaicin
cream to the stomach or even using Haldol, a medication typically reserved for treating psychotic episodes.
“That’s something that can clinch the diagnosis for me, when someone says they’re better with a hot shower,” Buresh said.
“Patients describe going through all the hot water in their house.”
Who’s at Risk?
Even after symptoms subside, CHS can return if cannabis use continues. Stopping cannabis use is the only way to fully resolve the condition.
Carlini warns:
“Because the syndrome strikes intermittently, some cannabis users assume a recent episode was unrelated and continue using—only to become severely ill again.”
Long-term recovery often depends on completely quitting cannabis, although addiction can make abstinence a challenge.
Scientists are still unsure why CHS affects some users and not others.
The leading theory suggests that overstimulation of the endocannabinoid system disrupts the body’s natural regulation of nausea and vomiting.
Dr. Buresh adds:
“It seems like there’s a threshold when people can become vulnerable to this condition, and that threshold is different for everyone. Even using in small amounts can make these people start throwing up.”
A study from George Washington University surveyed more than 1,000 CHS patients, finding that early and prolonged cannabis use is
strongly linked to emergency room visits for scromiting.
Disturbingly, adolescent cases in the U.S. increased more than tenfold from 2016 to 2023, with the fastest rises occurring in states where recreational cannabis remains illegal. Interestingly, while overall CHS cases were more common in states where cannabis is legal, younger users saw more cases in states where it remains illegal.
CHS Officially Recognized
The World Health Organization formally recognized CHS on October 1, 2025, giving it an official diagnosis code. Carlini explained the significance:
“A new code for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome will supply important hard evidence on cannabis-adverse events, which physicians tell us is a growing problem.”
With emergency room visits climbing, experts warn that cannabis users—both teenagers and adults—need to be aware of this potentially debilitating condition.
