Cannabis smokers have been warned about the rather distressing side effect of 'scromiting' after US president Donald Trump reclassified the drug as a less dangerous substance.
Weed is legal in some US states for recreational purposes, but across the rest of the US, state-licenced medical marijuana has been changed from Schedule I to Schedule III.
In the US, a Schedule I drug is classed as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, with other drugs like heroin being in this category.
On the other hand, being listed as a Schedule III drug means the US government acknowledges medical marijuana has recognised uses, as well as a low to moderate potential for dependence.
Advert
Nonetheless, it's still illegal for recreational and medical use at a federal level, so this isn't the US giving the green light to weed becoming legal on a nationwide level.
What is 'scromiting'?
One of the warnings being given about weed is the risk of the side effect 'scromiting', a portmanteau of the words 'screaming' and 'vomiting', and that's pretty much what this is all about.
It's a symptom of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) which causes serious stomach pain and can affect chronic cannabis users.
Sydni Collins, 23, shared her experience of the horrific condition with the New York Post last year, explaining: "I would be puking all morning. I would let out yells or cries because nothing would come out. I was just dry heaving.
"I could not bear the taste of anything. I would chew on ice cubes. I would lick the salt off pretzel rods.
“I would be in the fetal position on the bed for hours because that was the only way my stomach didn’t hurt as bad."
According to the Cleveland Clinic it results in nausea and abdominal pain which can have you screaming in pain along with severe vomiting, hence the rather disgusting term 'scromiting' to describe the consequence of those symptoms.
According to a study published last year, the number of people turning up in US emergency departments with CHS increased fourfold from 2016 to 2022.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has formally recognised CHS and has a proper diagnosis code for it.
Professor Beatriz Carlini of the University of Washington School of Medicine said: "It helps us count and monitor these cases. In studying addiction and other public health concerns, we have three sources of data: what clinicians tell us, what people in the communities tell us, and what health records tell us.
"A new code for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome will supply important hard evidence on cannabis-adverse events, which physicians tell us is a growing problem."
Why 'scromiting' is a new term
Doctors have had problems distinguishing it from stomach flu or food poisoning which has made diagnosis and official recognition difficult.
Unfortunately for people suffering from the CHS symptom there are no existing therapies for it and anti-nausea medication is often unsuccessful at treating the symptoms.
Something people suffering from this condition can do to alleviate the problems they're having is getting a hot shower, as Dr Chris Buresh said patients with CHS have found it to be a relief for the pain that has them screaming.
He said: "That’s something that can clinch the diagnosis for me, when someone says they’re better with a hot shower. Patients describe going through all the hot water in their house.”
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24/7, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week.
Joe Harker