Overview
- Effective Oct. 1, the WHO update gives cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) a distinct ICD code now incorporated by the CDC for nationwide use.
- A JAMA Network Open study of 2016–2022 ER data found suspected CHS visits surged starting in 2020, peaked during the pandemic, then eased yet remained above pre-pandemic levels, with authors citing pandemic stress and wider access to high-THC products as likely factors.
- Researchers documented roughly 100,000 suspected cases in the sample, with the steepest increases among adults ages 18 to 35, and one analysis reported an approximate 650% rise to the peak.
- CHS presents with cyclical, severe vomiting and abdominal pain, sometimes described as “scromiting,” and patients often report relief with hot showers that can help clinicians recognize the condition.
- There are no FDA-approved treatments for CHS; standard anti-nausea drugs often fail, topical capsaicin may help temporarily, and stopping cannabis use remains the only reliable cure.