A case of the munchies is the least of some cannabis users’ problems.
Some regular tokers are being hit with debilitating stomach pain, severe nausea and constant vomiting mixed with screaming — a condition that’s earning the unfortunate nickname “scromiting.”
And ERs are seeing far more cases identified since October of last year.
The scary symptoms are a result of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a gut-wrenching disorder that also triggers relentless nausea and abdominal pain — with vomiting or retching striking up to four or five times an hour, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
And those affected are showing up in emergency rooms more often — or, at least, they’re being identified more often.
From January 2023 through September 2025, a CDC report found that the rate of ER visits involving CHS remained largely steady. But from October 2025 through May 2026, it jumped 370%.
The biggest reason for the sudden increase? A specific ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for CHS was introduced in October 2025, making the condition easier for doctors to identify and track.
The change was immediate. In one month alone — from September 2025 to October 2025 — CHS-involved ER visits jumped from 3.35 per 10,000 to 11.26 per 10,000. It notched up further to 13.10 per 10,000 by May.
The code has created more awareness of the condition, which previously may have been misdiagnosed as something else.
“The most common misconception about CHS is that it is even a real condition,” John Puls, a psychotherapist and master’s certified addiction professional, told The Post in December. “Most physicians, especially in emergency rooms where patients often end up with CHS, attribute the problem to some other type of G.I. issue.”
Previously, the syndrome was thought to occur in heavy cannabis users, especially those who indulged on a daily basis for years. But emerging evidence suggests symptoms can occur much sooner than previously estimated — potentially within the first year of cannabis use, according to the CDC authors.
And younger people — especially those ages 15 to 24 and females — accounted for a disproportionate share of CHS-involved ER visits.
The form of cannabis consumed may also make an impact on how quickly symptoms start.
A study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research found that those who used electronic vape cartridges developed chronic vomiting much faster than smoking or edibles.
The findings come as vaping usage increases, with at least 15 million teens now using electronic cigarettes.
For those who suffer from CHS, “scromiting” episodes can hit within 24 hours after smoking or consuming edibles.
According to prior research, ER cases had already doubled between 2017 and 2021, affecting around 2.75 million people in the US.
Complications from this condition can arise, including erosion of tooth enamel, acute kidney injury, electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, weight loss and even seizures, kidney failure or death.
