Unfortunately, there are a lot of ways to alter cannabis. Prewrapped joints can contain a mixture of cannabis and various other substances, including synthetic marijuana or crack cocaine. Obtaining your herb from a reputable source and looking at testing data whenever possible is the only way to avoid getting bunk cannabis. If you’re concerned about your stuff, here are seven ways to tell if you’ve been smoking laced weed.
1. Powdery texture
Taking a close look at a bud is recommended before consuming. Cannabis trichomes are small, milky white to amber crystals that can rub off into a sticky powder. Rolling and squeezing a little cannabis between your fingers can help you determine whether or not there is something extra on your herb.
Sometimes, dealers looking to unload some schwag cannabis for a higher price will sprinkle them with laundry detergent or glass slivers to create the illusion of a resin-laden cannabis strain.
Crushed pills and other drugs can also be sprinkled on top of a bowl, a joint, or dusted on a bud to look like kief.
Kief that comes off of cannabis should have an herbal, earthy, or pungent aroma. Cannabis should be sticky and not grainy when you rub it in between your fingers. Kief crystals will be fairly consistent in color. They will not be pure white nor will they be a transparent crystal color. Kief crystals will be milky white or will feature very slight amber, yellow, or hues.
Kief that has been pressurized will turn brown. Anything dark brown and powdery, orange, or pure white is something else.
To learn more about looking for glass or detergent, check out the full article here.
2. Altered scent
In general, it’s good to avoid cannabis that does not have a pleasing aroma. Damp or musty smelling cannabis may be moldy.
Cannabis with a strong chemical odor may either be laced or contain traces of pesticides, insecticides, or fungicides.
A strong and unpleasant aroma sort of like molten plastic is a sign that the cannabis has been laced with DMT, a hallucinogen that causes a short period of separation from reality.
Though, many other substances can cause a nasty, burning aroma. If the smell becomes more intense and unpleasant as you are smoking, it may be best to put the stuff down.
3. Harsh taste
Feeling a harsh burning pain after smoking cannabis is a sign that it is contaminated. A metallic flavor may indicate that the grower did not properly flush the plant before harvest.
A chemical flavor is common in cannabis laced with synthetic drugs. If the herb has a flavor similar to that of biting into an ibuprofen tablet, that’s a surefire sign that something is wrong with your bud.
Similarly, when smoking, cannabis that pops and sparks when touched with a flame is also a bad sign. Sometimes, cannabis that contains seeds may pop when they are heated. But, if the herb is popping quite a lot it may not have been flushed properly or may be contaminated by another substance.
4. Excessive talkativeness, energy, and euphoria
The primary psychoactive in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can cause some people to break into fits of laughter, chatting, and euphoria.
However, if you feel like you’re talking incessantly and can’t stop, or you feel like you have more energy than you should, this may be a sign that your cannabis has been laced with some sort of stimulant.
Stimulant drugs that may be rolled into a joint or coated onto a bud include:
- Crack cocaine
- MDMA
- Methamphetamines
- PCP
- LSD
- DMT
Strong feelings of rolling euphoria are also associated with heroin and other opioid drugs. Cannabis laced with LSD will inspire periods of prolonged giggling and laughter and mild to moderate color distortions and visual hallucinations.
5. Agitation and inability to sleep
In general, cannabis is a relaxed and low-key herb. However, if you or someone you know suddenly becomes more aggressive or is acting a little too revved up, this may be a sign of tainted cannabis.
Methamphetamine, PCP, and crack cocaine are three street drugs which can cause intense paranoia, agitation, or aggressive behavior.
If someone is acting erratic, it is important to seek medical attention. It’s also important to avoid acquiring or consuming cannabis products from unreliable sources or strangers.
Similarly, if you find that you are unable to sleep or do not feel tired when you should, this is a sign that your cannabis may have been laced with a stimulant. Some cannabis strains are known to be more energizing, like a strong cup of coffee.
However, a feeling of energy or alertness that is significantly stronger than your average cup of joe is a sign that there may be something a little odd with your cannabis.
6. Unconsciousness and memory loss
Tragically, the “roofie”, also known as Rohypnol, can also be added to cannabis. The powerful tranquilizer can induce unconsciousness, impairment, and memory loss.
The effects of this drug kick in 20 to 30 minutes after ingestion. If you begin to notice an intense drowsiness or wooziness that seems similar to being drunk, call for help as soon as possible.
Though cannabis also has a reputation for affecting memory, the herb does not cause prolonged memory loss. Consumers remember what they did while under the influence of cannabis.
If you cannot remember what happened after consuming cannabis but can remember events prior to using the herb, it is a strong sign that it has been laced. Seek help from police or a trusted friend if necessary.
Several other drugs can cause unconsciousness, however. If someone around you falls unconscious after consuming cannabis, seek immediate medical care.
7. Numbness
Pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek out medical cannabis recommendations. Cannabis has a reputation for creating a slightly numb, heavy bodied sensation.
However, if this numbness is strong enough hinder your ability to feel pain is a sign that your herb has been contaminated with opioids or cocaine.
Some serious side effects
With all of the different substances out there, it is very difficult to tell what might be passed along with some bud. Always seek medical attention if you’re concerned that you are having a reaction to an unknown drug.
Many illicit substances also interact with common pharmaceutical medications, making laced cannabis especially dangerous for patients. In the worst case scenario, accidental drug intoxication can result in:
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizure
- Hallucinations
- Coma
- Death
For more information on laced cannabis and how to avoid it, please read the full article here.
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