Jill Fuller swapped a nightly glass of wine for THC gummies hoping to make a healthier choice. She bought the gummies at a store near her Apex home and believed they were safe.
A few months later she wound up in the emergency room with extreme pain and nausea.
Other WRAL Top Stories
“I was on the floor of the hospital moaning really badly,” Fuller recalled.
Doctors informed her she had cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). The condition is tied to repeated use of cannabis products and is most often identified by symptoms like stomach pain, persistent nausea and vomiting.
In July 2025, Fuller sat down with WRAL to share her story and to warn others of the dangers of products on North Carolina shelves.
“It took about 2 months to be able to get back to normal,” Fuller said. “I certainly don’t intend to touch it again because I don’t ever want to feel that way again.”
CHS is now making headlines again on social media as more people share similar stories to Fuller’s.
Users have now given the condition the nickname ‘scromiting,’ a blend of ‘screaming’ and ‘vomiting.’
Fuller told WRAL she is glad to hear the condition is being talked about more widely but urged people with lived experience to share their stories offline as well.
“I think people are in disbelief, and online things can get really ugly. People get defensive and angry, and call you a liar,” she said. “I think it’s important for people to tell their stories to friends and family members that know them, so that people can get the word out there.”
Duke Health Emergency Physician Dr. Joshua Ring told WRAL over the summer that the condition has grown in prevalence locally.
“I would say, anecdotally, that we’re seeing it on at least a weekly basis, if not sometimes daily,” Ring said. “We’ve been seeing it mostly in older teenage boys and young adults.”
Ring said more research is needed to understand the condition. Current theories suggest CHS occurs when endocannabinoid receptors in the brain and intestinal system get overloaded due to persistent cannabis use.
Fuller warned parents to be on the lookout for changes in their child’s behavior so they don’t wind up sick like she did.
“It’s becoming so mainstream that you can just walk in and buy something, like I did, that can hurt you. Parents need to know that is available for their kids to buy or get from somebody else, and to look out for the warning signs,” said Fuller.
Along with nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, another sign of CHS is seeking relief in scalding hot showers. Anyone with symptoms should stop all cannabis use and seek medical care.