Marijuana has erupted in California since it was legalized on 1 January 2018, producing legal clinics filled with tested cannabis oils and edibles.
Marijuana use is on the rise, with a stigma that is slowly being removed. However, experts warn that constant, long-term use of cannabis can lead to a condition called scromiting, a term used by people who simultaneously scream and vomit. Often mistakenly referred to as cyclic vomiting, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is a type of cannabinoid toxicity that develops in chronic smokers. The syndrome is cyclic vomiting associated with chronic cannabis use and can include morning sickness and abdominal pain. Sources: 4, 5
Studies based on only a small number of patients suggest that this is the most common form of scrounging seen in emergency rooms among young people. Typically, at the onset of symptoms, patients have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Not much is known about what causes cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), although some toxicologists point out that chemical compounds in marijuana may interfere with the body’s cannabinoid receptors that regulate the nervous system. Chronic use can affect the production of cannabinoids known as cannabidiol (CBD), the main psychoactive component of marijuana. Others suggest that the genetics of the user may play a role, and that the chronic use of cannabis may cause the development of other diseases such as epilepsy and schizophrenia.
Traditional medications to relieve nausea do not seem to have much effect on patients suffering from scromizing attacks. There are many doctors can do to alleviate symptoms, such as advising patients to give up marijuana.
Some doctors say many patients are reluctant to do so because they do not believe it is marijuana that makes them ill, especially since cannabis is often prescribed to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Some patients find relief from a hot bath or shower, but giving up pot is the best antidote, he says. Marijuana is honored for its nausea – soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, making it less likely to cause severe nausea and vomiting in certain people.
Many people who suffer from the syndrome try to correct this by using more cannabis, which ultimately makes the feeling worse. Despite the high number of reported cases and the growing number of people reporting symptoms, experts stress that there is no scientific evidence linking cannabis use to chronic nausea and vomiting, although a growing number and severity of cases have been reported in recent years.
The quirkiness of the situation is so bizarre that the popular fact-checking website Snopes has taken up the theme. Although CHS sounds scary, it can be cured by stopping the use of marijuana. The extent of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is not yet known, but it is very rare and has been proven to cause nausea, vomiting, and even behavior – such as symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
In December 2017, Snopes explained that tabloids based in the UK warned people that a phenomenon known as “cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome” (a hybrid word that means “screaming and vomiting at the same time”) is experienced by people who are long-term cannabis users. The sensational nature of the story led many to question whether this condition was even possible, to which snobbery responded that the coverage in these tabloid articles was largely true by all standards.
They also discussed the possibility of treating the condition known as Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), from which chronic marijuana users are increasingly suffering. Typically, it is severe vomiting, similar to the pain experienced by many people with chronic pain such as cancer, liver cancer and other diseases. CHD is nicknamed “scromiting” because it typically involves severe nausea and vomiting at the same time, as well as severe pain. Successful treatment for CHH can be very strange, but such treatment involves long, hot showers lasting up to 10-15 minutes or even longer.
This can be difficult, however, because some users reject the idea that their use of marijuana is responsible for their condition. Using the term “scromiting” to describe the unpleasant effects of marijuana in an e-mail could be misleading.
Meg Kobe, director of the SHOP, said the service has seen an increase in patients with symptoms not normally associated with marijuana as concentrates and edibles become more available. Early symptoms of CHS can appear as early as two years after the first use of marijuana, and the average CHS patient shows symptoms after about 16 years of use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). SHop works with local pharmacies to raise awareness and inform users.
Doctors in Colorado also report countless cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. This condition is little understood, but it is called scromiting because it consists of simultaneous screaming and vomiting. The disease appears to be more common in pregnant women than newborns, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but more and more expectant mothers are testing positive for marijuana.
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