Six People Suffer Severe Bleeding After Consuming Synthetic Weed
In Illinois, six people suffer severe bleeding after consuming synthetic weed. This is one of many recent occurrences that reveal how dangerous synthetic cannabis can be. Here’s what happened last week.
Illinois’ Illegal and Dangerous Synthetic Weed
Six people living in northeastern Illinois have experienced severe bleeding due to synthetic weed. The first instances occurred on March 10 according to Across Colorado Patch. Since then, doctors have diagnosed four other people with bleeding as a result of consuming synthetic weed, beginning on March 23. These people have since been hospitalized.
All six of these people consumed synthetic cannabinoids and live in the same area. Authorities are investigating which synthetic weed product is responsible.
What is Synthetic Weed?
Synthetic weed also goes by the name of K2 and spice. As we reported, synthetic weed isn’t weed at all. Not only does synthetic weed not contain cannabinoids, but it’s made from manufactured chemicals. These chemicals bind to the body’s cannabinoid receptors the way that natural-occurring cannabinoids do, but they interact with our cannabinoid system in vastly different ways than THC or CBD.
How Dangerous is Synthetic Weed?
Since the chemicals used in synthetic weed differ widely, we don’t fully understand their effect.
However, we do know that synthetic weed is extremely dangerous and potentially deadly. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, “The health effects from using synthetic cannabinoids can be unpredictable and harmful—even life-threatening.”
Synthetic cannabis can lead to seizures, kidney failure, heart attacks, bleeding and even psychosis. In the latest case in Illinois, six people suffer severe bleeding after consuming synthetic weed because it stopped their blood from congealing.
Director of Illinois Department of Public Health Dr. Nirav D. Shah said, “Despite the perception that synthetic cannabinoids are safe and a legal alternative to marijuana, many are illegal and can cause severe illness.”
Synthetic Weed is Making American Soldiers Sick
Recently, a lot of people have been getting sick from synthetic marijuana. Last month, we reported that 90 U.S. soldiers fell ill due to synthetic cannabinoids. As the Army officially stated, symptoms included “headaches, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, dilated pupils and dizziness to confusion, disorientation, agitation and seizures.”
Members of the U.S. military are not permitted to smoke marijuana, so they often turn to synthetic weed. This can have disastrous health consequences.
People Around The Country Are Getting Sick From Synthetic Weed
Synthetic weed-related illnesses are happening across the country, from small towns to big cities. In 2017, three kids in South Bend, Indiana overdosed on synthetic marijuana. Luckily, paramedics rushed the kids to the hospital in time to save them.
This scare, along with an increased amount of hospital visits due to these chemicals, encouraged South Bend mayor to take action. Now, synthetic weed is illegal in South Bend, though companies are changing the chemical makeup of their products to get around the law.
New York has also experienced a sharp rise in synthetic weed-related illness. Just last year, Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood had a synthetic weed scare that resulted in, what The New York Times dubbed a “‘Zombielike’ State in Brooklyn.”
Dr. Robert Glatter, who has treated New York patients suffering from sickness due to synthetic weed, described these chemicals sometimes frightening effects. “We have to chemically restrain and physically retrain them because they become violent and very strong,” Dr. Glatter explained.
Final Hit: Six People Suffer Severe Bleeding After Consuming Synthetic Weed
The six people who suffered severe bleeding from synthetic weed are just the latest victims of fake marijuana. As more people fall ill or even die, from synthetic weed, it’s time to raise awareness of the difference between natural cannabinoids and these chemicals, and regulate illegal synthetic weed manufacturing.
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