One of the major risks involved with not purchasing weed at a dispensary is that there are no guarantees that it has not been laced.
Although marijuana may not be laced as often as other substances, it can still happen when a dealer wants to bulk up their supply or alter its effects. Some people lace weed to enhance its psychoactive effects. Either way, running into laced weed is dangerous. It can cause you to deal with several side effects, including nausea and difficulty breathing.
Common Substances Used to Lace Weed
There are more than 10 substances that are commonly used to lace weed:
- Glass
- Lead and other heavy metals
- Bacteria and fungus
- Heroin
- PCP
- Cocaine
- Embalming fluid
- LSD
- Laundry detergent
- Ketamine
- Methamphetamine
- Fentanyl
To understand the purpose of lacing weed with one of the above items, let’s take a closer look at the damage they can cause.
Glass
Glass-laced marijuana presents a significant health hazard. If you have any reason to think you might have received some, some people attempt to test it by rubbing the weed on a CD or a mirror. If the weed scratches the surface, it may be laced. However, this method is not foolproof and should not replace avoiding suspicious products altogether.
Lead and Other Heavy Metals
Unfortunately, weed has been shown to absorb heavy metals out of the soil. Additionally, improper growing practices or contaminated fertilizers and pesticides may expose marijuana to lead and other heavy metals.
Bacteria and Fungi
Bacteria and fungi can contaminate weed, even if the grower has no intention of selling laced weed. Therefore, it’s critical that you only purchase weed from a known brand that you can trust and that follows proper testing and storage standards.
Heroin
Heroin-laced marijuana often makes the user relaxed and extremely lethargic. It also has the potential to make you pass out. In some cases, it could even cause an overdose, which might lead to death.
PCP
PCP is a hallucinogenic drug that causes people to dissociate. If someone tells you they’re selling wet weed, super weed, fry, or dusted weed, it’s laced with PCP. Steer clear of this substance as it can cause delusions, suicidal behavior, and even long-lasting neurological complications.
Cocaine
Cocaine-laced weed is sometimes referred to as ’51.’ Smoking this laced marijuana unintentionally can produce strong and negative emotional reactions. Furthermore, it can cause hallucinations and cardiovascular issues.
Embalming Fluid
Adding embalming fluid to weed will make it more psychoactive, but this comes at a huge risk. It can cause cognitive issues, including memory loss, and it might even lead to your death.
LSD
Taking weed with LSD is generally done consciously, as it requires placing LSD on your lips when you smoke marijuana. However, if you somehow ingest LSD without realizing it, you could be in for a very bad trip that could last up to 8 to 12 hours.
Laundry Detergent
Some dealers will mix laundry detergent and marijuana to improve the weed’s appearance and smell. Sadly, this can make you sick and could lead to more serious complications.
Ketamine
Ketamine is often used as a party drug. When it’s mixed with weed, it can lead to dissociative and stimulant effects. Additionally, it often causes overheating and severe dehydration.
Methamphetamine
Lacing marijuana with methamphetamine, more commonly known as crystal meth, is known to cause delusions, hallucinations, confusion, and seizures.
Fentanyl
Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, has increasingly been found in illicit drugs. While confirmed cases of fentanyl-laced marijuana remain rare, cross-contamination is still possible in unregulated markets.
Fentanyl-laced weed poses a serious danger because users may unknowingly consume this powerful opioid, significantly increasing the risk of overdose. Since fentanyl is much stronger than other opioids, even a small amount can lead to a fatal overdose.
To reduce risk, individuals can use fentanyl test strips when contamination is suspected. In the event of a possible opioid overdose, the administration of naloxone can be lifesaving by reversing the effects and providing critical time to seek medical help.
Symptoms of Laced Weed
Each of the following symptoms can accompany laced weed. If you’ve been sold marijuana that you didn’t know was laced, it can give you a really harsh high that you’d do anything to come down from.
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Feeling lightheaded
- Dizziness
- An unreal feeling
- Heart rate shoots up or down
- Blood pressure shoots up or down
- Insomnia
- Decreased appetite
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Confusion or disorientation
Take these symptoms seriously because they are trying to warn you that what you’ve taken was bad for you.
Short-Term and Long-Term Health Risks
Smoking adulterated marijuana can lead to numerous short-term and long-term health risks. Chief among them are acute intoxication, life-threatening reactions, and physical harm, which can all happen the first time you smoke laced weed. Over time, you could also face depression, paranoia, and aggression. Even worse, you run the risk of becoming addicted to whatever substance was used to lace your weed.
As an example, let’s look at the long-term side effects of heroin use. Regular usage of this illicit substance may result in imbalanced hormonal and neuronal systems. Furthermore, your tolerance will increase rapidly, meaning you’ll need larger amounts of heroin to attain the same effect.
Once you decide to quit, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Muscle and bone pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Involuntary leg movements
- Cold flashes with goose bumps
All of these symptoms can occur if you’ve been smoking weed that is laced with heroin. Sadly, some people will also end up hospitalized or even die from consuming laced marijuana.
Opioid-Laced Weed and the Risk of Being Dopesick
When marijuana is laced with opioids such as heroin or fentanyl, users may experience opioid withdrawal, commonly referred to as being dopesick, once the drug leaves their system. Feeling dopesick can begin within six to 12 hours and may include symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, sweating, anxiety, and intense cravings. This reaction can occur even if someone did not knowingly use opioids.
Being dopesick is a major driver of opioid use disorder (OUD), as people may feel compelled to use again simply to avoid the severe discomfort of withdrawal. In cases involving opioid-laced weed, this cycle can begin unintentionally, increasing the risk of dependence, relapse, and overdose, especially without access to medical support.
What to Do if You Suspect You’ve Used Laced Weed
It’s critical to seek medical care if you suspect you’ve smoked laced weed. Have a sober person take you to the hospital or, if there is no one sober around, call poison control or a marijuana hotline for assistance.
When to Seek Emergency Medical Help
If you’re dealing with severe side effects that indicate a possible overdose, such as confusion, rapid heartbeat, paranoia, slowed breathing, drastic changes in body temperature, or slurred speech, you should immediately call 911. It’s vital not to smoke marijuana on your own, particularly if you’ve purchased it from a new dealer.
How to Avoid Using Potentially Laced Weed
Another thing you can do is pay close attention to your weed before you consume it. Any unusual smells, discoloration, or odd packaging may indicate that your weed has been laced. If it seems off to you, it’s much better to follow your gut and not use the potentially laced marijuana. Better to waste a few dollars and live than take a chance and have it go disastrously.
Seeking Treatment for Substance Abuse
For most people, occasional marijuana use isn’t a big deal. However, if you’ve been using laced weed or if you smoke cannabis daily, it’s time to seek help. Without even knowing it, you could be walking a dark path that might lead to substance use disorder or serious health consequences.
Signs That Laced Weed Use Has Become a Problem
Let’s use cocaine-laced weed as an example. When you smoke a 51, it can cause you to become addicted to cocaine. Symptoms of addiction may include:
- Lying about substance use
- Financial problems
- Bizarre or violent behaviors
- Psychosis or depression
- Withdrawing from sober friends and loved ones
These are all indicators that it’s time to get help before your addiction worsens, leading to central nervous system damage or other serious health consequences.
Treatment Options for Marijuana and Polysubstance Use
Marijuana addiction recovery usually requires intensive outpatient services or inpatient treatment at a recovery center such as Live Free Recovery Services. We offer detox and addiction treatment, which often includes therapy, individualized treatment options, and a relapse prevention program.
Who Is at Higher Risk for Substance Use Disorders
Certain people are more prone to developing substance use problems, even with unadulterated marijuana. Contaminants in laced weed can worsen side effects like drowsiness, sedation, and clammy skin. Be sure to pay extra attention to how you’re feeling if you have:
- A family history of substance abuse
- Personality disorders
- Previous drug abuse problems
- Mental health disorders
Additionally, as marijuana legalization continues to expand, it remains important to stay aware of public health concerns and avoid unregulated sources where contamination is more likely. The good news is that by enrolling in one of our treatment programs, you’ll receive the support needed to overcome marijuana use and move toward a healthier life.
Are you tired of being addicted to laced weed or any other illicit substance? Contact Live Free Recovery Services today at 888-527-1508 to begin your journey to sobriety.
