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No, 2.8 million Americans are not "screaming and vomiting"
The Argument • • health
Key Points:
- Several major news outlets, including The Washington Post and The New York Times, have reported that approximately 2.8 million Americans suffer from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) annually, a condition causing severe nausea and vomiting in heavy cannabis users.
- CHS, sometimes sensationally called “scromiting,” is characterized by frequent vomiting episodes and relief only through hot showers, severely impacting sufferers' daily lives.
- The reported figure of nearly 3 million cases has been questioned, with critics arguing that it is based on a faulty study and likely overestimates the true prevalence of the condition.
- Despite acknowledging potential negative effects of heavy marijuana use, experts remain skeptical that such a large number of users are incapacitated by CHS to the extent reported.
- The New York Times recently revisited its stance on marijuana legalization, highlighting CHS as a significant health concern and calling for stricter federal regulations and taxation.
