What is ‘scromiting’? US citizens warned about terrifying cannabis side effect
Doctors are reporting a sharp rise in emergency room visits for a severe condition linked to cannabis use called Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS). Patients suffer intense, cyclical bouts of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain—a combination staff have termed “scromiting,” for the screaming and vomiting it causes.
Diagnosing CHS is often difficult, leading to multiple costly ER visits before it is correctly identified. Episodes typically begin within a day of cannabis use and can last for several days, with standard anti-nausea medications proving ineffective.
In the absence of approved treatments, doctors sometimes use unconventional methods. These include hot showers, capsaicin cream applied to the abdomen, or even the antipsychotic medication Haldol to alleviate symptoms.
A key diagnostic clue is a patient’s report that hot showers provide relief. The only definitive cure for CHS is complete cessation of cannabis use, though this can be challenging due to addiction.
It remains unclear why only some users develop CHS. One theory suggests heavy, long-term use overwhelms the body’s endocannabinoid system, disrupting its control over nausea and vomiting.
Cases are increasing, with adolescent CHS visits rising more than tenfold from 2016 to 2023. A new WHO diagnosis code, implemented in October 2025, will help track the condition’s prevalence.
Experts urge public awareness of this serious risk. For many long-term users, the debilitating reality of CHS is a severe and recurring consequence of cannabis consumption.
