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.

“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.