Synthetic marijuana products reached their heyday around the same time that the real stuff was becoming legalized across the country. It provided a decent, and legal (at the time) alternative for those who wanted to get high without risking going to jail as a result. However, most states banned these types of products a few years ago due to their popularity as well as their potential health risks.
Unfortunately, the ban has done little to discourage people from seeking it out on the black market, at smoke and novelty shops or from neighborhood dealers. Why synthetic marijuana is so popular is anyone’s guess. It tends to be more-expensive than regular pot, and it’s also more-difficult to obtain. However, for teens or those who are unable to obtain marijuana from legal sources, it provides a suitable alternative, and this may explain the high-demand.
Every year, hundreds of people from around the country are hospitalized due to adverse reactions from these products. However, this year has already seen a major uptick in hospitalizations and deaths thanks to a tainted batch that has made its way into circulation. While most state officials are reluctant to speculate about the cause until definitive test results come in, a couple of health departments have suggested that these products contain a deadly compound that is normally found in rat poisons.
The Brodifacoum Scare
Brodifacoum is a blood thinner that causes uncontrollable hemorrhaging in rodents that ultimately leads to their demise. However, small concentrations of this poison can also produce similar effects in humans. Unfortunately, it can take up to a week before symptoms develop, and by that time the bodies of victims can be ravaged to the point where few treatment options are useful. Make no mistake, this is a toxic compound that produces symptoms that bear a close resemblance to hemorrhagic viruses that strike the fear of the divine into most people.
Symptoms of Exposure
Easy bruising and excessive bleeding that is difficult to control are usually the first symptoms to appear within days of exposure. Gums and small cuts or scrapes can bleed indefinitely as the toxin destroys the ability for blood to clot. Bloody noses and stools are common, and women may experience menstrual bleeding that is heavier than usual as well. As the toxin ravages the body, symptoms will become more severe and include fatigue, back pain, confusion, blood in the urine, coughing up blood, and eventually, blood coming out of every orifice in the body.
Unfortunately, there is no way to track tainted products or identify their source, and this is why it’s so important to avoid using them at all costs. It’s also important to note that this particular chemical is just one of many additives that have sent thousands of users to emergency rooms over the past few years. Even if you were able to avoid coming across a batch containing brodifacoum, there’s a good chance that the product contains a different additive that can be just as harmful.
Considering the ease of obtaining real marijuana and the fact that law enforcement agencies across the country are moving away from prosecuting users, it just makes more sense to stick with the real stuff. While we’re not recommending that anyone break the law, it’s important to weigh options before taking any unnecessary risks that can have fatal consequences.
Avoid synthetic marijuana at all costs, and be mindful of these symptoms so that you can intervene if you think that someone you know may have been exposed. Always choose to err on the side of caution, and don’t delay seeking medical attention if you fear the worst.
