Features

Cannabis company should have warned consumers, says lawsuit

Published on June 13, 2025 by Pat Bulmer

Photo: Adobe Stock/the oz.

An Ontario court has certified a class-action lawsuit that accuses Canadian cannabis company Aurora Cannabis of failing to warn consumers about the risk of developing Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome.

“The action was commenced by V.T., a Canadian Forces veteran who was prescribed cannabis to treat medical conditions,” a news release from Sotos Class Actions said.

Sotos is a law firm based in Toronto and Vancouver that — as its name suggests — specializes in class-action suits.

“We take on complex and challenging class actions across all industries, and prosecute them to conclusion,” the law firm says on its website.

In this case, “V.T. purchased medicinal cannabis from the defendants, and used it as prescribed, until they suffered two extreme bouts of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain that were so severe V.T. had to be hospitalized.

“On the second E.R. visit, V.T. was diagnosed as suffering from CHS. The only certain cure for CHS is to stop consuming cannabis, which V.T. did, and is now symptom-free.

“None of the cannabis products that V.T. consumed contained any warning about CHS, nor is there any warning in the product monograph, or on Aurora’s website,” the Sotos release said.

“The claim alleges that the defendants knew, or should have known, of the risk of CHS arising from the regular use of their cannabis products, but negligently failed to provide any warning to consumers or prescribing physicians about the risk that they could develop CHS.

“The class action is brought on behalf of all persons in Canada who purchased a Cannabis product from Aurora Cannabis Inc. or Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc. (which includes MedReleaf) on or after February 1, 2014 to May 14, 2025 … who were diagnosed or differentially diagnosed with CHS.”

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice certified the class action on May 14, Sotos said in its release, noting: “No findings of liability have been made against the defendants.”

In a further explanation on its website, Sotos says: “CHS is a dangerous side effect from regular use of cannabis products. CHS causes recurrent, intense and persistent nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea. Severe CHS can cause dehydration, damage to the tissues of the mouth and throat, organ failure and, in extreme cases even death. It is estimated that thousands of Canadians suffer from CHS every year.”

Los Angeles based health-care provider Cedars-Sinai says on its website: “Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that leads to repeated and severe bouts of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pains. It occurs in daily, long-term users of marijuana. Symptoms of CHS usually appear after 10 to 12 years of chronic use.”