Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is when you smoke weed every week to everyday for several years and end up vomiting a lot.
What causes cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
Marijuana has very complex effects on the body. Experts are still trying to learn exactly how it causes CHS in some people.
In the brain, marijuana often has the opposite effect of CHS. It helps prevent nausea and vomiting. The drug is also good at stopping such symptoms in people having chemotherapy.
But in the digestive tract, marijuana seems to have the opposite effect. It actually makes you more likely to have nausea and vomiting. With the first use of marijuana, the signals from the brain may be more important. That may lead to anti-nausea effects at first. But with repeated use of marijuana, certain receptors in the brain may stop responding to the drug in the same way. That may cause the repeated bouts of vomiting found in people with CHS.
Since CHS was discovered pretty recently, some doctors might not know about it. Also, CHS is often confused with cyclical vomiting.
Steve: Smoke weed everyday!
*Smokes weed
Andre: I'm not sure you should smoke that stuff everyday. No one knows the long term effects. I only chug Kratom twice a week.
*chugs Kratom
(several years later)
Steve: *vomits brahdhrb
*Smokes weed
Smoke weed everyday.
Andre: I found out about something called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. I think you might have it. Or maybe it's cyclical vomiting.
*chugs Kratom
Doctor: Steve! You have cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. I thought it was cyclical vomiting but you tested positive for THC and have a history of smoking marijuana everyday. You have to quit cannabis, or weed. You can never smoke weed again! You should have used moderation.
Steve: Nooooooo!
Steve: *Quits weed for 3 months
Steve: Hey! The nausea is gone.
Andre: Cool! Wanna chug Kratom?
Steve: Sure! *chugs Kratom
Andre: *chugs Kratom
Tyler: I only smoke weed when going on a boat fishing. It helps with nausea. Other times, it's kratom. *Smokes weed. *chugs kratom.