marijuana and stomach problems

I was prescribed medicinal marijuana because of my back back pain and I experienced stomach pain so I had to stop.

There is a thing called CHS-cannabis hyperemesis syndrome-with symptoms of cyclical vomiting and stomach pain.

You should get tested for syphilis

I have been suffering from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) since 2012. It’s a rare condition caused by what seems like an unlucky trait (not necessarily an inherited one) and a mixture of too much cannabis. (More-so thc rather than cbd)

Basically, smoking too much weed gives me almost withdrawal like symptoms. It almost feels like withdrawal in the sense that in between these episodes of sickness, taking a dab would calm my daily nausea. But I noticed I had to be dabbing pretty much consistently every 2-3 hours. If I ever tried to go out of town I had to bring a dab rig. If I stopped smoking that would trigger an episode. But, you can’t just keep the symptoms away by smoking - you get sick (and I mean extremely sick, cyclical vomiting) consistently. Most people who suffer from this rare syndrome have a certain time frame they will repeatedly get sick during - mine happened every 4-6 weeks and would last 5-10 days.

It’s very similar to cyclical vomiting syndrome (CVS). It is the worst pain I’ve ever been in and wouldn’t wish it upon anyone. Every 4-6 weeks about I would have an “episode” as I call it, of uncontrollable, constant vomiting and extreme abdominal pain. These episodes have never lasted less than 5 days and have lasted up to 10. I have been to the ER more times than I can count over the past 7 years, but I estimate the number is around 50. I’ve been admitted for days mostly due to extremely low potassium after the vomiting episodes. Daily I woke up with nausea and could barely eat without needing to vomit afterwards, however the cyclical vomiting and extreme episodes happened nearly monthly. Normal anti-emetics don’t help. The only thing that has successfully received symptoms were IV benzodiazepines, morphine, and promethazine at the hosptial. I initially smoked pot to avoid big pharma and all things I was told I figured were much worse. But I just want to let you know I am in no way exaggerating - it is really that miserable. The only thing to offer some relief is a scalding hot shower or bath. The only way I’d even attempt to be in my room is with a space heater or the heat at 90 degrees in my house, capsaicin Cream, and a scalding hot heating pad. When my bathroom ran out of hot water, I would literally boil more and put it in the tub once bubbling. And get right in. I have a permanent burn on my back and my chest is usually bright red from the constant need for heat during these episodes. I don’t do any drugs. So I know it wasn’t anything else.


I wasn’t diagnosed for about 2 years, but kept smoking for a few more years after I was. I didn’t truly believe it was the pot or would accept that fact. They said the cause was smoking too much marijuana. Given the fact that I smoked 1-2 grams of concentrates per day, this wasn’t implausible. At first I wondered if it was the butane causing it, but recently I’ve found more people with this syndrome who only smoked flower.

However honesty, I truly could not quit. First off, because I was terrified of initially stopping and triggering an episode of vomiting. But also, because
Without weed, I am an anxious wreck. My thoughts can be my worst enemy, racing constantly. Mary Jane has connected me with so many people, and has given me relief, memories... she’s always there, you know?

But With it, I can’t hold down a job because I’m constantly sick and can’t work long shifts because I’ll need a smoke break - literally to keep from vomiting. I can’t even go out to a restaurant with my boyfriend. Life is miserable this way, too.

I hated the world for a while because my friends and boyfriend who smoke the same amount as me didn’t get sick - why me? In a family of addicts and alcoholics, why does the one benign plant that gives me some comfort have such a horrible effect on me? I still don’t know this answer and I hope I am able to know this soon - from a medical standpoint.


I stopped smoking for about 3 months. It was an awful 3 months of constant anxiety but no big episodes, still constant bathing and extreme anxiety and underlying nausea. I started smoking again, but no more concentrates.

I was able to go all of 2017 without an episode still smoking 1-2 grams of flower per day. I smoked a bunch of oil around New Years and got sick again 2 weeks later. So I don’t think I’ll ever recover but I have learned that balance is key. There really is too much of a great thing. I want to make it clear how much of an advocate I am for marijuana, and that I will always love it. I’ve seen a lot of pot enthusiasts such as myself completely dismiss this idea, and get really angry. It bums me out because I don’t want marijuana to get a bad rep, but I also know this is very real and miserable.

But I really just am at a point where I need to bring awareness to this, for my own sake and for knowing there are others out there. I am in online groups regarding this, but even there I am ridiculed for smoking still. However, it isn’t that easy for me and I’m sure it’s got to be hard as hell for anyone else out there.

If you’ve actually read this all, thank you. If you see news about this

Just wanted to share my story with you all.

Im dealing with thia right now scared af I've got colon cancer or something bad idk but I've found that maybe you are swallowing the smoke and taking in too much air. When you 'ghost' you try to make a big bubble right? When you suck it back in (no pun) you also take excess air in PLUS smoke and basically goes to your stomach and causes bloating which causes stomach pains which cause irritated intestines from tarrr smoke and excess air which cause diarrhea and a irritated bum.

I Suffer from acid reflex Big Time.
I'm Starting to get Stoumic Pain

It's gone be hard becouse you probably not gone want to eat and be moody, and extra hyper but if you can stop smoking for 2 days then eat you a bud drink water to wash it down or natural juice. Stomach problems gone be gone and you are gone to be extremely hungry. Quit smoking all the VITAMINS out some it a Superfood as well!

I enjoyed your post but I feel like some of the edibles (especially gummies) give me stomach pain!?

Check this article on your problem:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_hyperemesis_syndrome

Western medicine has a lot of limitations but in Chinese medicine we can begin to understand the cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), and why it only affects certain people. What are some common symptoms to most people who get stomach pains from MJ? Usually they have H Pylori, stomach ulcers, and acid reflux, sometimes hiatal hernia. To understand in Chinese medicine we say they have in common is HEAT in the stomach (or intestines). The reason chronic vomiting affects only some MJ users is due to the amount of heat that is in their system to begin. If they have no heat then they can smoke and smoke with no worries. But if they have a lot of heat in the stomach already (ulcers, GERD, hernia, ulcers) then the MJ can easily imbalance them and result in stomach pain and hyperemesis syndrome. MJ heat will transfer from Lungs to Stomach if smoking, if eating it will hit the stomach hardest then transfer to the lung and heart indirectly.

If suffering from CHS its best to stop the pot. Some tips from a web site I found might help to correct the underlying imbalance so you can (occasionally) get high again someday, but don't push it:

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice root (DGL) is a well-established anti-ulceration and mucosal healing agent. DGL can coat and soothe the intestinal lining and promote the healing of inflamed tissue and ulcers. Research suggests that flavonoids in licorice have impressive antimicrobial activity against H. pylori. The flavonoids have been shown to have antimicrobial activity against strains of H. pylori that were resistant to clarithromycin and amoxicillin, two of the primary antibiotics used in triple therapy. Some forms of licorice can elevate blood pressure but because DGL has low glycyrrhizin levels it is safe to take if you have high blood pressure.

Sulforaphane is a naturally occurring chemical found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts. Some studies have demonstrated that it can inhibit H. pylori. Eating cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli sprouts, will ensure that you get plenty of sulforaphane, but it is also available in capsule form from several supplement manufacturers, including a product called Broccomax.

Some studies have suggested that Vitamin C may inhibit and even kill H. pylori but more research is needed to determine the optimal dosing and program duration. Even if Vitamin C does not eradicate H. pylori, it is still worth taking a controlled dose because studies clearly show that Vitamin C levels in the stomach lining can be reduced when H. pylori is present, largely as a result of the inflammatory and oxidative stress caused by the infection. Vitamin C is also an excellent nutrient for assisting with gut healing.

Vitamin U – also known as MSM – is found in raw cabbage. In fact, Vitamin U is not a vitamin at all. Cabbage juice has been studied extensively in Russia and other Eastern European countries for the healing of damaged and eroded intestinal mucosa. It appears to enhance the healing of damaged tissue and may assist in healing ulcers.

When I consider what the most useful single herb I know with these same antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal – in fact, every ‘anti’ property we would need to fight off harmful pathogens-is, it is Isatis tinctoria, an herb commonly known in old English as “woad,” meaning “weed.” As an ancient East – West cruciferous family medicinal herb, it happens to have all of the same antipathogenic sulfur compounds found in cruciferous vegetables and of course biologic MSM sulfur. Both the leaf and the root of Isatis are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine called da qing ye and ban lan gen respectively. These are classified as bitter and cold, which from an herbalist’s perspective means they are broadly antipathogenic and reserved for short-term use to treat the most stubborn pathogens such as viruses but are equally effective for bacteria and funguses as well.

I've smoked since I was young. I stopped for a few years and now I'm in my twenties started back up again.
But I have to stop due to the stomach pains from pot. It's terrible.

You're a God

Weed hurts my stomach

I'm a 30 year daily smoker. Recently, I began having quite a few digestive issues. I talked to my doctor about it and he told me that in a lot of cases it's not actually the marijuana causing the issue but simply the intake of too much air and too much smoking if your a heavy user through the day. I have quit for a week now and I'm feeling a ton better. It could simply be the ingestion of too much air into the system in your stomach into your bowels and as you get older it starts to get worse because your body can't take it anymore. That's what I found for myself and I don't know if I really want to quit but the feeling of being a lot better is overriding the need to smoke pot. Good luck everyone.

It is real! I've been at 30 years pot smoker myself. Several times a day. And my doc actually told me that the ingestion of too much air through the day of smoking can actually cause a lot of these issues too. Lots of gas makes sense indigestion stomach issues cramps And ibs-d. I've been off now for close to a week and as I have stopped a few times before it's pretty simple for me anyway just to stop. But you're absolutely right there is something after a while as a long term marijuana user that may make us stop because of these medical problems. As they say moderation is the key. We just used up all our time and that's it. Good luck man.