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There are a lot of people out there who claim weed is a harmless drug but there are a number of studies out there that have documented the adverse effects that extend beyond ordering enough Chinese food for yourself to warrant three fortune cookies.
In 2012, voters in Colorado passed an initiative legalizing the sale and consumption of recreational marijuana within its borders, and since the measure was passed, the state has been a breeding ground for research examining the impact the decision has had.
While the economic benefit appears to be positive, not everyone is benefiting—including the steadily rising number of people who have been diagnosed with a mysterious illness linked with heavy marijuana use.
According to Business Insider, a group of clinicians in Colorado published a paper earlier this week looking at a phenomenon that’s been dubbed “cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.”
According to their research, a large hospital outside of Denver has seen a dramatic increase in the number of patients diagnosed with CHS, which can induce severe nausea and vomiting.
It was the number one cause of the 2,500 documented marijuana-related hospitalizations between 2012 and 2016 (they also noted people who ate edibles were more likely to suffer from a bout of psychosis).
Doctors have been fairly baffled by CHS since a group of Australian physicians discovered the disease back in 2004, and while they don’t know exactly what causes it, they do know the only cure is to quit consuming marijuana entirely.
Way to harsh our mellow.
Thankfully, Business Insider reports a professor at NYU is working on an alternative treatment that wouldn’t involve making the ultimate sacrifice. Not all heroes wear capes.