Doctors are raising urgent concerns about a startling cannabis‑related side effect that is sending large numbers of users to emergency rooms — a condition so severe it has been nicknamed “scromiting.”
It may sound humorous, but the reality is anything but.
Over the past decade, hospitals have reported a sharp rise in patients experiencing intense nausea, uncontrollable vomiting, and stomach pain so severe it leaves them doubled over — sometimes several times a year.
The cause? 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 extreme they scream — literally
CHS episodes typically begin within 24 hours of cannabis use and can last for days.
Medical staff coined the term “scromiting” because many patients scream while vomiting.
Dr. Chris Buresh, an emergency medicine specialist, explains the challenge: “There are currently no therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and standard anti-nausea medications often don’t work.”
Doctors sometimes resort to unconventional treatments — hot baths and showers, capsaicin cream applied to the abdomen, or even Haldol, a medication usually used for 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 is at risk?
Even after symptoms fade, CHS can return if cannabis use continues. Completely stopping cannabis is the only way to eliminate the condition.
Carlini cautions: “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 requires full abstinence, though addiction can make quitting difficult.
Scientists still don’t know why CHS affects some users but not others.
The leading theory is that overstimulation of the endocannabinoid system disrupts the body’s normal control 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 George Washington University study of more than 1,000 CHS patients found that early and long-term cannabis use is strongly linked to ER visits for scromiting.
Alarmingly, adolescent cases in the U.S. rose more than tenfold from 2016 to 2023, with the fastest increases in states where recreational cannabis remains illegal. While overall CHS cases were more common in states with legal cannabis, younger users saw more cases in states where it is still prohibited.
CHS officially recognized
The World Health Organization formally recognized CHS on October 1, 2025, assigning it an official diagnosis code. Carlini emphasized its importance:
“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 ER visits continuing to rise, experts warn that cannabis users — both teens and adults — need to understand the risks of this potentially debilitating condition.
