Man describes horrific ‘Scromiting’ reaction as cannabis side effect sends thousands to ER

If you’re old enough to remember the public conversations around cannabis in the 1980s and 1990s, you probably recall just how heavy the stigma once was. For many years, marijuana was framed almost exclusively as a gateway drug — dangerous, destabilizing, and socially corrosive.

While cannabis remains illegal in many parts of the world — and punishments in some countries are still severe — attitudes in the United States have shifted dramatically. Today, recreational cannabis is legal in 24 states, and medical marijuana is permitted in even more. Public opinion polls show that support for legalization has steadily climbed over the past two decades.

It’s not hard to imagine a future where cannabis is treated much like alcohol: regulated, normalized, and largely stripped of its taboo status.