Marijuana’s Hidden Health Crisis - 8/27/26

Emergency room visits linked to severe marijuana-related vomiting illness have surged among teenagers and young adults. According to a new study by the Center for Disease Control, the condition known as Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome causes cyclical bouts of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and it's on the rise. In fact, there's a new term to describe this, scrommeting, to describe the pain-driving screaming and vomiting. Now, in a few cases, this can be fatal, but hot showers and baths usually provide temporary relief. Nonetheless, this is definitely on the rise amongst the young.

Improving recognition of the syndrome and better coding of it accounts for some of the rise in the data, but there is little doubt that widespread state-level legalization of cannabis has led to a surge in these cases. The findings from the CDC come just a year after CatholicVote joined more than 40 other organizations Unfortunately, the Justice Department rejected the warning and shifted FDA-approved marijuana medications and state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 of the Controlled Substances Act while leaving recreational marijuana in Schedule 1.

Meanwhile, over at The Loop, we have a report on how Americans' confidence in college has collapsed. And politics isn't the only reason. We also have a story on sacred music at the Vatican. Today is the Feast of St. Monica, whose steadfast hope and prayer through years of uncertainty were essential to bringing her son into the Catholic Church, where he would inspire millions with his writings. It is only fitting that the Church would celebrate St. Monica a day before we celebrate St.

Augustine. I'm Josh Mercer, editor of The Loop, taking you behind the headlines. Go to zeal.co for the rest of today's Loop, and while you're at it, subscribe to get The Loop in your inbox. Every morning. Again, that is zeal.co.