The illegal drug trade has been responsible for a plethora of fentanyl-laced substances. It’s fairly common knowledge to stay away from narcotics, opiates, and other “hard” drugs. For this reason, though, people are now having to question if there is fentanyl in the weed that they’re buying. This is not a concern for legal states where the production of cannabis is highly regulated. However, with many states having no legislation for the legal sale of cannabis, purchasing weed illegally has the potential to be life-threatening.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine. Common side effects typically include feelings of confusion, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, and loss of coordination. Additionally, the potency of fentanyl can easily result in an overdose. According to Erin Marshall, Certified Prevention Specialist with the Center for Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS), “The amount that it would take for a human to overdose can fit on the surface of a penny.”
The drug was responsible for the deaths of more people in 2020 than suicide, car accidents, cancer, or gun violence, according to Families Against Fentanyl.
Is There Fentanyl In Weed: Vape Cartridges
If you’re in a state where cannabis is still illegal, it may be a good idea to stay away from black market THC vape cartridges. As recently as February 17th, a Connecticut high school superintendent confirmed that a student overdosed after using a tampered vape pen. After a field test, it was confirmed that the THC vape cartridge had been laced with fentanyl. The school released a statement saying that “vape devices across the country are being laced with fentanyl. Local authorities have reported an increase of laced devices in the Quad Cities area.”
Photo by Jonathan Cooper from Pexels
Is There Fentanyl In Weed?
On February 16th, Elkhart, Indiana Fire Captain, Grant Roberts, reported a concerning number of recent overdoses. The captain stated that these instances “required more care than a standard overdose would.”
“A lot of these overdoses, [the people] that we have been talking to after they have been revived or after the situation has been mitigated for them, have told us that they did not [know] they were taking an opioid, which is a very common statement by someone that was just revived by Narcan. But for so many of them to say that and think that at the same time, it’s just out of the ordinary,” Roberts says. Additionally, Roberts believes that “someone is tampering with some sort of narcotic in the city,” which is the cause for the rise in overdoses.
Conclusion
There is currently no definite yes or no answer when it comes to understanding if there are people out there putting fentanyl in weed. However, the recent cannabis-related overdoses point towards the former. In conclusion, if you’re in a state where cannabis is illegal, it may be best to switch to legal forms. Delta-8, CBD, and hemp products are great alternatives that are federally legal. You can usually find these products at your local vape shop.
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