Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) diagnoses have increased yearly for some time. The exact diagnostic criteria are hazy, but those who have CHS often suffer from severe nausea and even cyclical vomiting that can happen as close together as every five minutes. These side effects lessen after the patient quits using cannabis which leads doctors to believe it is caused by it.
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Little is known about the syndrome, but what is known is that lots of people are struggling. Facebook support groups are filled with CHS patients desperate for answers. Even celebrities are speaking out with their stories. Many seek answers in a direct cause for CHS, but none has been determined. One man is taking action in another way. A group led by a Canadian Forces Veteran referred to as VT is seeking damages from a major cannabis corporation after suffering from CHS.
Recently, the Ontario Superior Court certified a National Class Action Lawsuit against Aurora Cannabis Inc. and Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc. on behalf of VT. The suit alleges that Aurora failed to warn customers of the risk of developing CHS with regular use. It asserts that the corporation either knew or should have known about the risk and warned physicians and/or consumers accordingly.
VT was prescribed cannabis to treat medical conditions and purchased it from Aurora. He used products as prescribed until suffering severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain made him visit the emergency room. The doctor advised that he quit cannabis, and when he did, the symptoms stopped.
None of the cannabis products he consumed or the website for the company stated that there was a risk of CHS. He commenced the class action to recoup damages for himself and others diagnosed with the syndrome.
Now that the court has classified the case as a class action suit, people with CHS diagnoses who shopped at Aurora will be notified. The case is seeking Canadians who purchased any cannabis products between February 1, 2014, and May 14, 2025, and were diagnosed or differentially diagnosed with CHS after consuming at least one.
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None of these claims are proven in court, and the defendants deny the claims, according to a press release. When asked for comment, Aurora representatives explained that they do not comment on legal matters beyond what is publicly available.
Most class action lawsuits settle out of court with a settlement divided among the impacted group. It is unclear how this CHS class action lawsuit will be resolved. For now, they are gathering the troops for the litigation road ahead.
