If you pay attention to news about cannabis, you might have noticed a recent rise in the term ‘scromiting’. Do you know what it is? Do you know whether it impacts recreational users or both recreational and medical users alike?
Scromiting is not necessarily life-threatening, but it is a very uncomfortable condition that can affect long term and heavy cannabis users. It is not likely to impact medical cannabis patients using cannabis under the direct supervision of a doctor or pharmacist. But it’s still possible for medical cannabis patients to experience it.
Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome
‘Scromiting’ is a slang term referring to a medical condition known as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). Ironically, the World Health Organization just recently recognized an official diagnosis of CHS. Their recognition gives doctors yet another tool in helping people experiencing the negative impacts of heavy cannabis use.
As for scromiting, its name is derived by combining two of the most pronounced symptoms of CHS: screaming and vomiting. A person in the throes of CHS is likely to experience vomiting, nausea, and intense abdominal pains. That is where the screaming comes from.
CHS symptoms tend to emerge within 24 hours of cannabis consumption. They can last for days at a time. There is no known treatment or cure, but the cannabis community frequently recommends taking hot showers to help ease symptoms.
Heavy, Long-Term Cannabis Use
Although CHS need not discriminate, it is most likely to occur among long-term and heavy cannabis users. It seems that the longer a person uses cannabis on a daily basis, the more likely they are to develop CHS. That typically would not bode well for medical users except for the fact that medical doses tend to be on the lower side.
Medical cannabis professionals are known to urge patients to start their cannabis journeys using the slow and low approach. According to Salt Lake City, Utah’s BeehiveMed, the approach is designed to limit the amount of THC a medical cannabis cardholder consumes on a daily basis.
The approach suggests using the lowest possible dose of THC, with the least frequency, to achieve appropriate symptom relief. A new patient would start out with a very low dose and see how it goes. Dosage and frequency are gradually increased until the patient finds that sweet spot. And once found, the patient goes no further.
Medical Use Is Controlled
Medical cannabis use is controlled as long as a patient adheres to the advice offered by his doctor or pharmacist. In addition, doctors and pharmacists tended to recommend that patients take a few days off each month to prevent tolerance. Such tight supervision should keep a patient from ever experiencing scromiting.
If a medical cannabis patient does develop CHS, there is a decision to be made. Is it better to stop using medical cannabis and look for alternative treatments, or are the symptoms of CHS worth enduring to keep using cannabis?
Scromiting Can Be Scary
The decision may be an easy one for some cannabis users. After all, scromiting can be a scary experience. The pain can even be intense enough to send a person to the local emergency room. That could be sufficient to convince a person to stop using.
Now you know what scromiting is. Although it could impact medical cannabis users in theory, it is more likely to impact recreational users due to their heavier consumption. Either way, scromiting represents a very real medical condition associated with cannabis. If you have ever experienced it, you know that it is worth avoiding.
