Laced Weed: Recognizing the Risks and Consequences

Laced weed refers to marijuana that has been contaminated, whether accidentally or intentionally, with other drugs or harmful substances. Substances that weed has been laced with include highly addictive opioids and stimulants, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, meth, and more.

Knowing what to look for and how to respond after consuming laced weed is crucial to ensuring you get the healthcare services you need to recover.

What Is Weed Typically Laced With?

Targeted for its relatively benign effects compared to hard drugs, weed has been laced for decades with the following substances (non-exhaustive list):

• Fentanyl
• Cocaine
• Formaldehyde
• Heroin
• LSD
• Methemphetamine

Sometimes, weed is laced with cheaper substances to increase its weight. In other instances, contamination is accidental. In either case, research efforts focused on the adverse effects of laced weed reveal how dangerous (even deadly) laced weed can be for the unsuspecting user.

Fentanyl

In US jurisdictions that support legalized marijuana, fentanyl-related deaths increase by 50 percent.[1] Fentanyl-laced weed use is trending up among young Americans, causing severe side effects like acute kidney injury, hypoxic brain injuries, respiratory failure, and other serious issues.[2]

Because fentanyl is so addictive and potentially harmful, public health initiatives are heavily emphasizing the importance of early detection and treatment.

[Graphic Idea: Visualizing the data from the above findings in a table or chart]

Formaldehyde

“Smoking wet” refers to the dipping of marijuana cigarettes or joints into formaldehyde. Like fentanyl-laced marijuana, this combination can cause severe respiratory failure.[3]

Smoking wet can also refer to smoking weed that was dipped in phencyclidine, or PCP.

What Makes Laced Weed So Dangerous?

The dangers of laced weed go far beyond the acute effects of one dose. Greatly increased addictive potential, unpredictable cross-reactivity, and even long-term health complications pose serious risks.

Moreover, people who consume spiked cannabis are usually unaware that it has been contaminated. Though there are ways to detect if weed has been laced in some cases (more on this below), many instances go undetected.

Unpredictable Reactions

Both the surprise element of the contaminant itself and its interaction with the marijuana can have a dramatic impact on health and safety. In some cases, the drug-drug interactions in laced weed are synergistic, meaning their combined effect is worse than their individual effects.

Exposure to formaldehyde is hazardous for anyone, but those with preexisting respiratory conditions may experience exacerbated symptoms or greater risk.[4]

Increased Addiction Potential

Whether or not a particular person’s substance use history includes the laced substance, laced weed can secretly foster an addiction to that substance. While some individuals may develop a strong psychological association or craving after one use of certain drugs, physical addiction typically requires repeated exposure over time.

Greatly Increased Overdose Risk

While a potentially fatal overdose from marijuana alone is extremely unlikely, chances of an opioid overdose skyrocket when the marijuana is laced with potent drugs like heroin. The same goes for methamphetamine and other powerful drugs.

The fact that many people consume spiked cannabis unknowingly, combined with the fact that they may have never been exposed to the other substance before, significantly increases this risk. Fentanyl test strips can provide a preliminary indication of fentanyl presence in a substance, although they may not detect all analogs or provide exact concentrations. As a result, many who consume weed laced with potent drugs like fentanyl are hospitalized with severe medical concerns on their first use.[5]

Accidental Poisoning

Not everything detected in laced weed is classified as a recreational drug. Aside from the above-mentioned cases of brodifacoum and formaldehyde, weed has also been reportedly laced or contaminated with the following substances:

• Lead
• Fungus and bacteria (Improperly stored cannabis can grow mold or bacteria, which may pose health risks, particularly for immunocompromised individuals.)
• Laundry detergent

All of these substances can induce toxicity, unleashing a cascade of symptoms that may be hard to detect if the marijuana use was not suspected. In cases of accidental poisoning, users may not realize a new or recent batch of marijuana has been contaminated, even if previous batches from the same source were safe.

How to Identify Laced Weed

Especially for those with less experience with cannabis or other drug use, identifying laced marijuana can sometimes be difficult. Depending on what it is laced with, the contaminated weed may take on an unusual smell, appearance, or texture. Beyond these, several other telltale signs of contaminated weed are important to know for safety reasons.

When investigating for signs of contamination, take the following factors into account:

Unusual Smell

Unadulterated weed has what is often referred to as a “skunky” or earthy smell to it. If you detect any sort of chemical-like odor resembling paint thinner or ammonia, among other chemical odors, the weed may be laced.

Unusual Appearance

Some strains of cannabis, particularly those rich in trichomes or resin, can appear shiny or frosted. Glossiness alone does not confirm contamination.

Finally, take note of any glossiness when inspecting your weed. This may be a sign that it was sprayed.

Gauging the Body’s Response

If you’re even slightly familiar with the standard effects of pure marijuana, then you should be able to tell when your weed is laced. This distinction is even stronger if the weed is laced with a powerful drug like methamphetamine.

For example, the following symptoms may indicate you’re not dealing with weed alone:

• Racing heart rate
• Strong blood pressure fluctuations
• Blacking out

If you experience impaired motor function, breathlessness, or confusion, contacting emergency services immediately is highly advised.[6]

Harsh Smoke

Preferably, you will be able to identify whether or not your weed is laced using the above methods before consuming it. However, if the smoke burns your throat and/or if it tastes like chemicals, you may be smoking laced marijuana.

It’s highly recommended that you stop smoking as soon as you notice harsh smoke and/or any unusual taste or odor.

What to Do After Consuming Laced Weed

If you believe you’ve just used laced weed, acting as quickly as possible is crucial to minimizing the impact on your health.

Your first step should be to stop using it immediately after you notice abnormal effects. Next, carefully monitor your symptoms to determine whether calling 911 is necessary. If you experience any of the more severe symptoms mentioned above, including hallucinations or a dramatically elevated heart rate, it’s better to call 911 than to risk an overdose.

If you or someone else may be experiencing an opioid overdose — including symptoms like slowed or stopped breathing, blue lips, or unresponsiveness — administer Narcan immediately. Whether you have Narcan on hand or not, find a safe place to wait for medical personnel to arrive.

When medical personnel arrive, be honest about what you used and where you obtained it. Their priority is not to charge you with a crime, but to help you recover. If possible, save any leftover weed you have. Medical personnel may be able to test it to determine the most appropriate approach to your care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Laced Weed