Regular cannabis use can cause a serious vomiting syndrome. Should people be warned?
When Brittany Ramsey first started experiencing what she described as “awful stomach episodes,” she initially attributed them to side effects of the medication she was taking to manage her diabetes. However, after a particularly severe episode that landed her in the hospital due to uncontrollable vomiting, she knew something was different.
Ramsey, a 35-year-old operations trainer at a financial firm in Cincinnati, Ohio, shared that her episodes of vomiting became increasingly frequent and intense over the course of three years. She was hospitalized 29 times and had to be picked up by an ambulance on one occasion because she couldn’t make it to the hospital.
After undergoing numerous tests to rule out conditions such as Crohn’s disease, gastroparesis, and diverticulitis, Ramsey’s doctor finally mentioned cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) as a possible explanation. CHS is a condition characterized by cyclic episodes of severe vomiting that can affect long-term cannabis users.
Ramsey admitted that she had been smoking cannabis daily for over a decade before experiencing symptoms of CHS in 2017. As the potency of THC in cannabis products has increased significantly over the years, experts believe that this may be a contributing factor to the rise in CHS cases.
Studies have shown a significant increase in emergency room visits related to CHS following the legalization and commercialization of cannabis in Ontario. Online communities, such as Facebook groups and Reddit threads, have become a support network for individuals struggling with CHS and seeking advice on managing their symptoms.
Professor Jamie Seabrook, an expert in epidemiology and biostatistics, emphasized the need for greater awareness of CHS within the healthcare system to ensure that individuals receive the support and information they need.
In a recent development, a lawsuit was filed against Aurora Cannabis, a Canadian cannabis production company, alleging negligence in failing to warn consumers about the risk of developing CHS from regular cannabis use. The lawsuit, which was certified by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, aims to highlight the importance of including CHS warnings on cannabis product labels.
Health Canada currently requires cannabis manufacturers to warn customers about specified risks, such as addiction and dependence, but there are no specific requirements to include CHS in these warnings. Experts hope that raising awareness about CHS will help individuals make more informed decisions about their cannabis use and potentially prevent future cases of the condition.
Overall, the growing prevalence of CHS underscores the importance of understanding the potential risks associated with cannabis use, especially in light of the increasing potency of THC in cannabis products. By promoting awareness and education, healthcare professionals and policymakers can help mitigate the impact of CHS on individuals like Brittany Ramsey.
