Brian Smith suffered from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) and died at the age of 17
Doctors have reported rising cases of a rare but fatal condition linked to significant marijuana use, which causes intense vomiting, dehydration and abdominal pain.
Daily marijuana smokers are at risk of developing cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), which researchers warn could become more common as marijuana becomes increasingly legal. It can be used recreationally in 22 US states.
Brian Smith, 17, died in Indiana in October 2018 from dehydration due to CHS.
Smith is one of four known deaths linked to CHS – the others are a 27-year-old female, a 27-year-old male, and a 31-year.
However, there are numerous cases of people with the condition being hospitalized for weeks.
One woman from Boston, who deemed herself an ‘Olympic smoker’, spent more than two weeks in the hospital.
ER doctor Sam Torbati said CHS is a ‘relatively unique condition that we see with patients who use relatively large amounts of marijuana – at least 20 times in a month.
‘Patients who suffer from this condition have recurrent bouts of vomiting and abdominal pain.
‘They’re terrifically symptomatic and can get very sick.’
CHS is a rare illness that comes as a result of chronic and prolonged usage of cannabis. Symptoms of CHS include extreme vomiting, nausea, dehydration, stomach pain and death in rare cases.
In the brain, marijuana often helps to prevent nausea and vomiting. However, in the digestive…