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Rat poison likely to blame for deadly side effects of synthetic pot in Illinois
Source: Chicago Tribune
Rat poison likely to blame for deadly side effects of synthetic pot in Illinois
By Elvia Malagon
Chicago Tribune
APRIL 6, 2018, 4:05 PM
Synthetic pot for years was sold under the guise of a cheaper alternative that allows users to dodge drug screenings.
And while there have been rashes of hospitalizations nationwide involving those who’ve ingested fake weed, experts say they’ve never seen the severe side effects — internal bleeding in particular — that have killed at least two and sickened dozens in the Chicago area and central Illinois in the past month. Investigators say that while users have been smoking different brands of the synthetic marijuana, the common ingredient that may be leaving people ill is rat poison.
The problems are the result of a cat-and-mouse game playing out among government entities passing laws to ban synthetic pot and manufacturers tweaking their recipes to keep the drug on the market — and money in their pockets, experts say.
The rat poison likely is to blame for the horrible side effects: internal bleeding, severe bloody noses and bleeding gums, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Officials and experts say this underscores the dangers of using synthetic cannabinoid products: Often the man-made drugs are manufactured and packaged under clandestine operations without being tested or otherwise scrutinized like legal medications that go through years of testing on animals and then people.
-snip-
By Elvia Malagon
Chicago Tribune
APRIL 6, 2018, 4:05 PM
Synthetic pot for years was sold under the guise of a cheaper alternative that allows users to dodge drug screenings.
And while there have been rashes of hospitalizations nationwide involving those who’ve ingested fake weed, experts say they’ve never seen the severe side effects — internal bleeding in particular — that have killed at least two and sickened dozens in the Chicago area and central Illinois in the past month. Investigators say that while users have been smoking different brands of the synthetic marijuana, the common ingredient that may be leaving people ill is rat poison.
The problems are the result of a cat-and-mouse game playing out among government entities passing laws to ban synthetic pot and manufacturers tweaking their recipes to keep the drug on the market — and money in their pockets, experts say.
The rat poison likely is to blame for the horrible side effects: internal bleeding, severe bloody noses and bleeding gums, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Officials and experts say this underscores the dangers of using synthetic cannabinoid products: Often the man-made drugs are manufactured and packaged under clandestine operations without being tested or otherwise scrutinized like legal medications that go through years of testing on animals and then people.
-snip-
Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-synthetic-marijuana-problems-history-20180406-story.html
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