A surge in emergency rooms: The mysterious price of chronic marijuana use
Although known for relieving nausea, daily marijuana use causes a severe syndrome of intense vomiting and abdominal pain. Why do patients flee to a hot shower and what is the common age range for this phenomenon?
A massive surge has been recorded over the past year in the number of regular marijuana users arriving at hospitals in the United States due to "Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome" (CHS). The phenomenon, which manifests as severe nausea, incessant vomiting, and intense abdominal pain, presents a paradoxical and worrying picture: although cannabis is often used to relieve nausea, chronic and daily use can lead to an opposite and dangerous result, especially among young people.
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there was a 16% increase in diagnoses of the syndrome in emergency rooms between October 2025 and May 2026, alongside nearly 200,000 visits in recent years. The most prominent increase was recorded among young people aged 15 to 24.
The syndrome includes a preliminary stage of morning nausea, a severe vomiting stage where many find temporary relief in hot showers due to the effect of heat on the brain, and a recovery stage that occurs only after complete cessation of consumption.
"Chronic use causes over time an overstimulation of the endocannabinoid system, which disrupts the control mechanisms of the digestive system and the brain and creates an opposite effect," explains Dr. Nadav Ilani, a gastroenterology specialist at Clalit.
Dr. Ilani adds that the increase in reports is likely also due to improved medical diagnosis, but emphasizes the concern regarding the effect of active substances on the rate of gastric emptying and esophageal muscles.
Accurate diagnosis of the syndrome includes ruling out other medical conditions, while immediate treatment involves intravenous fluids, anti-nausea medications, and painkillers. Without complete cessation of cannabis use, symptoms tend to return and can even lead to severe complications such as dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and kidney damage, requiring increased awareness of the plant's side effects.
