Not all documentaries are for entertainment. Often they are produced to seek action. Contributing to this project means much more than simply creating a documentary film. 

Tens of thousands of cannabis users across the world are suffering from the chronic violent illness Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), and those are just the cases that are on record. It is estimated that a far greater number are agonizing without a diagnosis. Contributors of the CHS Doc Project will help achieve goals that reach far beyond just making a film — we have a chance to make a difference and really help people who have been begging for answers.. 

OUR GOALS​

(1) Federal lawmakers need to correct a decades old and unjust law that classifies cannabis as a certain category of drugs that make it nearly impossible for independent study & laboratory research.

(2) Medical professionals need to be aware of CHS, and have a unified understanding of the mysterious illness. Many doctors have never heard of CHS, let alone how to treat it. 

(3) Consumers need to be able to make informed choices about their cannabis use, and recognize warning signs of CHS before it becomes life-threatening.

(4) The legal cannabis industry is not going anywhere, and we have the ability to help the industry thrive safely and responsibly. 

WHAT is CHS?

Most people have experienced food poisoning at one point in their lives: a day of sweating, chills, headaches, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea — every moment is an excruciating experience no one wants to repeat.  But imagine one of these episodes lasting 14 days or more. Imagine additional symptoms: constant dehydration, dizziness, rapid heart rate, severe anxiety, fatigue, skin tingling, blurred vision, seizures. Imagine the only momentary pain relief are showers so hot they burn the skin. Imagine passing out at home and waking up in an emergency room surrounded by puzzled doctors running the gamut of every conceivable test without clear results. Some will pass it off as drug or attention-seeking behavior while others will recommend needless surgery. Imagine these episodes occurring every other week for months, and imagine this continuing for years without a diagnosis. 

Now imagine learning these symptoms were brought on by toxic levels of cannabis. I realize this very statement sounds insane at first, but it’s true. It is not only true, but it is a rapidly growing problem.

WHAT WE NEED & WHERE THE MONEY GOES

Film projects, big or small, cost money. There are a number of expenses to consider on this project to make it happen properly. Crowdfunded contributions will directly support the film production effort.

PRODUCTION EXPENSES

CHS is a global issue, and our short, preliminary remote Zoom interviews have already spanned four continents, and we plan on traveling wherever possible for a proper CHS investigation. Travel expenses include: flights, rental cars & other transport, meals, equipment rentals, traveling & local crew labor. 

It takes a number of people to create a film project, from pre-production, to production, to post-production. From camera people to sound people, these hard-working tradespeople do not work for free: cameramen, sound engineers, editors, digital designers, animators, and producers. 

Not to be understated is the cost of archival footage, interview transcripts, web design and maintenance, bookkeeping, lawyers, and insurance.

BEYOND THE GOAL

For every dollar we raise over our production goal, we will put those contributions into research studies to be featured in our documentary project. 

The first research study is a public health study backed by an accredited university. They will be able to survey thousands of patients and doctors from around the world, and interpret the data through scientific method. 

Another potential research study we would like to help fund would be a preliminary laboratory-based study, where researchers could lay the groundwork for understanding a kind of “cannabinoid toxicity” that could theoretically cause CHS. Current federal laws in the United States would make this particular type of study more difficult to achieve, but efforts to facilitate this type of study will be chronicled in the documentary film.

CONTRIBUTOR PERKS

Donors are everything. Without the support from crowdfunding, this project is unlikely to see its fullest potential. We have come up with a number of perks ranging from activist t-shirts & hats to special thanks in the film credits, to producer & executive producer credits. 

Keep checking into the page for additional perks. 

THE IMPACT

The communities affected by CHS are extensive, as cannabis is a widely popular recreational drug worldwide, as well as a popular therapeutic for a number of treatments. In areas around the world where cannabis is still illegal, patients risk losing their jobs or are subject to arrest simply for being truthful about their medical history. In underserved and marginalized communities, patients are written off by medical professionals as typical drug-seeking behavior. Many patients lose wages during their most symptomatic phases, while others lose their jobs altogether. In areas where health insurance is not covered by the government, many patients have destroyed their credit with insurmountable medical bills from long hospital stays, needless surgeries, and other treatments from misdiagnosis. Doctors with little, inadequate, or outdated knowledge of CHS encourage patients to vary their cannabis intake, prologing recovery. Patients with other conditions such as cancer are treated with cannabis only to develop symptoms of CHS.

RISKS AND CHALLENGES

The CHS Documentary Project faces inevitable backlash simply as an advocate for CHS. Those who deny this illness do so with such vitriol. It is important to convey that the goal of the project and every participant is to enhance the cannabis industry safely and responsibly — not to restrict it. 

While we do support the cannabis community and support the proliferation of legal cannabis, there are many who believe the mere mention of a cannabis-induced disease is an affront to the progress of the movement. This could not be further from the truth. Research of therapeutics as well as side effects help everyone.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! DONATE TODAY!