CHS Is Not a “Scromiting Epidemic”: Debunking Misleading Media Narratives and Highlighting the Real Issues Behind Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome
- Carlos Hermida
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Over the last several months, national and local media outlets have published increasingly dramatic stories warning of an alleged rise in “scromiting”—a slang term combining “screaming” and “vomiting”—and linking it directly to Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS). These stories have fueled public confusion, political alarmism, and a wave of misunderstanding about both CHS and cannabis use.
But here’s the truth:
CHS is real, but the way it is being portrayed is neither scientifically accurate nor medically responsible.
And “scromiting” is not a medical diagnosis.
As advocates for evidence-based cannabis policy, Suncoast NORML believes the public deserves accurate information—not sensational headlines.
This article breaks down what CHS actually is, why the “scromiting” stories are misleading, and which scientific criticisms of CHS the media fails to mention entirely.
What CHS Actually Is—And What It Isn’t
CHS, or Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome, is a condition characterized by cycles of vomiting, nausea, and abdominal discomfort in some long-term, heavy cannabis users. However, the scientific understanding of CHS is still extremely limited, and researchers continue to emphasize uncertainty.
Key Scientific Realities About CHS:
No established biological mechanism exists to explain why cannabis would cause cyclic vomiting in only some consumers.
Source: Cleveland Clinic — “Experts are still learning why CHS happens and who is affected.”
CHS remains a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning doctors diagnose it only after ruling out every other possible explanation.
Source: Cedars-Sinai — “There is no specific test for CHS… physicians must rule out other causes.”
Prevalence is unknown because no major population-level studies exist.
Source: National Library of Medicine — “The incidence and prevalence remain unclear due to limited research.”
Despite this, many headlines have presented CHS as a widespread emergency or “epidemic”—claims not supported by current data.
Why “Scromiting” Is Scientifically Misleading
The viral term “scromiting” is not recognized by:
The World Health Organization
The American Medical Association
The American Gastroenterological Association
Any peer-reviewed medical literature
It is, bluntly, a media invention, not a medical diagnosis.
Why This Matters
Using a sensational, slang-based term:
Distorts public understanding of what CHS symptoms actually look like
Stigmatizes patients experiencing legitimate medical distress
Invites political misuse by prohibition-focused lawmakers
Creates fear rather than education
Media outlets have highlighted extreme emergency-room cases because they make for gripping stories—but extreme cases do not represent the majority of cannabis users, or even the majority of people believed to experience CHS.
Major Scientific Criticisms of CHS That Rarely Make Headlines
The public deserves the full context, not just the dramatic parts. Here are the criticisms and scientific gaps surrounding CHS that you almost never see in mainstream reporting:
1. CHS Has No Confirmed Cause
Researchers have proposed theories—THC overstimulation, genetic predisposition, dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system—but none have been proven.
A 2021 systematic review found that:
“The pathophysiology of CHS is poorly understood, with no mechanism established.”
Source: National Library of Medicine
This scientific uncertainty is typically omitted from fear-driven reporting.
2. CHS May Be Confused With Other Disorders
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS), gallbladder disease, food poisoning, gastritis, and GI motility disorders can all mimic CHS symptoms.
A Mayo Clinic review found significant overlap between CVS and CHS, noting that many cases may be misclassified.
Misdiagnosis remains a leading concern among clinicians—not something reflected in current media narratives.
3. Research Relies Heavily on ER Data, Not Population Studies
Emergency departments only see the most severe cases. This creates a selection bias that distorts perceptions of CHS prevalence.
A 2020 GI review article states:
“Current CHS literature is disproportionately based on acute emergency presentations.”
Source: Current Gastroenterology Reports
In short: we do not have enough data to claim CHS is on the rise, let alone that it represents an epidemic.
4. The “Cure” Narrative Is Misleading
Most articles present cessation of cannabis use as the “cure.” But here are the problems with that claim:
Improvement after cessation does not confirm causation
Many GI disorders improve with lifestyle changes
Some patients report symptoms returning regardless of use
Others find relief through non-cannabis-related interventions (capsaicin, antiemetics, diet change)
Again, the science is far more complex than the headlines suggest.
So Why the Sudden Spike in Sensational Coverage?
There are three major reasons:
1. Click-driven media culture rewards shock value.
Terms like “scromiting” generate traffic.
2. Political actors use CHS narratives to argue against legalization.
Fear-based messaging has historically been used to justify prohibition.
3. Increased awareness—not increased incidence—may explain rising diagnoses.
Doctors have only widely discussed CHS since the mid-2010s.
None of these reasons justify misleading the public.
“But Alcohol Makes People Vomit All the Time — So Why Is CHS Treated Like a Horror Show?”
Let’s take a pause on the “scromiting panic” and remember something important: alcohol makes people puke — and pretty frequently, too. So if the media is going to treat stomach-turning, retching, and vomiting as a cannabis-only catastrophe, they’d better be ready for a world where every hangover becomes front-page news.
So let’s be real: if every time someone choked on their own drink we ran headline stories about “Whiskey-Induced Vomit Syndrome,” people would think alcohol is basically a public-health disaster — which, to be fair, some of the long-term harms already are. But we don’t. We treat those nights of “what did I even do last night” with a shrug, maybe a glass of water, and a promise to “never drink again” — until next weekend.
What does this tell us?
If puking after alcohol is common — even expected — then framing vomiting after cannabis use as uniquely terrifying or epidemic-level (with dramatic terms like “scromiting”) is disingenuous. It treats one substance as uniquely monstrous while normalizing the other — even though both can make your guts hate you.
In short:
If we treated alcohol and cannabis the same when it comes to gut-wrecking side effects, “scromiting” would just be “drunk-vomiting,” and the panic would fall flat.
So before we demonize one substance, let’s ask: why aren’t we demonizing both equally — or better yet, talking in honest, scientific terms?
What Suncoast NORML Recommends
We advocate the following:
More research
Fund population-level studies to determine prevalence and risk factors.
Better diagnostic criteria
Develop clear and consistent medical guidelines.
Honest education, not sensationalism
Patients deserve care—not stigma.
Regulation, testing, and safe access
Unregulated markets introduce contaminants that may cause GI symptoms, complicating CHS research.
Policy grounded in science
Not political opportunism, and not fear.
CHS Is Real—But the “Scromiting Epidemic” Is Not
Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome is a medical condition that deserves thoughtful research and compassionate care. But the media’s portrayal of CHS as a catastrophic “scromiting epidemic” is deeply misleading, scientifically unfounded, and harmful to both consumers and public understanding.
At Suncoast NORML, we believe in:
Science over sensationalism
Education over fear
Policy grounded in evidence—not panic
Florida’s cannabis community deserves accurate information and honest reporting, not stigma dressed up as public health.
We will continue to advocate for responsible cannabis policy, transparent science, and access to safe, legal cannabis for all Floridians.
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