What Can Cannabis Be Laced With?

Cannabis is widely accepted in many societies worldwide as an acceptable drug.

It has the reputation of being non-addictive; however, in the UK, it remains one of the top substances that people seek treatment for. [1]

Many people are unaware of what is combined with cannabis to enhance its effects. These mixtures can be incredibly toxic and dangerous to the body.

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis or Marijuana refers to the cut and dried plant Cannabis stavia or Cannabis indica. The mind-altering chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) gives the user a high feeling. It is usually smoked with tobacco and regularly used alongside alcohol.

Other names for cannabis include weed, bud, marijuana, dope, mary jane and pot.

Those who use cannabis report feeling relaxed as the THC travels through their bloodstream and into the brain. Other effects include impaired body movement and memory, altered sense of time and difficulty in problem-solving. [2]

What is ‘Lacing?’

Lacing refers to subtly combining substances to enhance the original substances’ psychoactive features. It is common for dealers or suppliers to lace substances to increase profits by making them stronger for the smallest cost.

Recently it was reported that heroin is laced with the potent fentanyl, which can be up to 100 times stronger than heroin. This means unsuspecting users risk overdose and death with laced heroin.

Lacing can have catastrophic effects on you or your loved one, as you may not know what it is you are taking. While reliable studies of cannabis lacing are not available, many reports come from the media.

What can Cannabis be Laced with?

Many believe smoking cannabis isn’t harmful to you as it’s ‘just a plant; however, it is what dealers lace the substance with that can have a toxic and devastating impact on your body.

Recent reports show that cannabis today is much stronger than it was in the past. Suppliers are more adept at growing the plant to have higher traces of THC in the product, and it is laced with other substances to increase psychoactive tendencies.

Substances that cannabis can be laced with:

1. Heavy Metals and Pesticides

Suppliers use the growing process to increase the THC potency in cannabis. Recent tests of the soils where cannabis has been grown show the plants draw in heavy metals and pesticides from the ground that can be toxic to the body.

Suppliers use pesticides for the plant to grow faster and more robust; however, they stay in the plant even after it has been prepared into cannabis. [3]

2. Fungus and Bacteria

Cannabis can often contain fungal pathogens that can be incredibly dangerous to the body. These pathogens can be drawn into the plant during the growing process and infect the body.

This can have a devastating impact on the user’s immune system. [4]

3. Glass

While drying, suppliers spray the weed with tiny glass particles to make the drug aesthetically pleasing to the consumer.

However, tiny traces of glass are embedded in the cannabis. Smoking this ‘grit weed’ can significantly impact your body as the glass particles become trapped in the lungs and cause respiratory issues.

4. PCP

Phencyclidine, or PCP, is a dangerous dissociative hallucinogen often added to cannabis to increase the drug’s psychoactive effects.

Many individuals aren’t aware that their cannabis is laced with PCP, which can be incredibly scary. PCP-laced cannabis can result in hallucinations, delusions, seizures, respiratory issues, aggression, and severe neurological conditions. [3]

5. Heroin

There have been reported cases of cannabis laced with heroin resulting in the user becoming extremely lethargic with severe symptoms like reduced respiratory function and heart rate.

Some reports even state the user became unconscious. Heroin is an incredibly addictive and dangerous substance that can be fatal. Those who have no tolerance for opiates risk overdosing when smoking heroin-laced cannabis. [3]

6. Ketamine

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that is usually snorted or injected. However, there are reports that cannabis is laced with ketamine to increase its effects of the cannabis.

However, unsuspecting users can be overwhelmed by the dissociative effects of ketamine. These symptoms can include disassociation, hallucinations and dehydration.

7. LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD, is a synthetic psychoactive drug used for its hallucinogenic effects since the 1960s. LSD can cause delusions, hallucinations and a distorted sense of time.

Cannabis laced with LSD can be frightening for the user as the unsuspecting effects of LSD can be intense. [5]

8. Embalming Fluid

Some reports have shown that cannabis can be laced with embalming fluid or formaldehyde to produce specific effects that make the cannabis seem more potent than it is.

Formaldehyde-laced weed has been known to produce severe cognitive issues, memory loss, long-term neurological damage and potential death. [3]

9. Stimulants

Stimulants are substances that increase the messages between the body and the brain. This category includes cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines.

Cannabis laced with stimulants can cause appetite changes, psychosis, cardiac arrest and seizures. Cannabis laced with stimulants can often produce the opposite effects of cannabis and cause hyperactivity instead of lethargy. These effects can lead to severe cardiac disturbances.

Lacing and Other Substances

It isn’t just cannabis that can have disastrous effects when laced with other substances. Suppliers and dealers can potentially lace their products to increase the impact and gain profits for the lowest cost. This is usually without any concern for the user.

This means that often, the individual may unsuspectedly buy street drugs laced with more robust, more potent substances. By taking these ‘wet’ substances, you or your loved one risk overdosing or taking something that may cause a severe toxic chemical reaction inside your body.

Every time you use it, you take a risk.

As previously mentioned, there are reports of heroin being laced with the potent synthetic substance fentanyl, which can severely increase the individual’s chances of overdose.

Reports have shown that cocaine can also be cut with fentanyl. Other substances that can be cut with cocaine include methamphetamine, ketamine and ecstasy.

Getting help

If you believe you or a loved one has a substance abuse problem, help is available. You can contact your GP, who will be able to direct you to your local drug and alcohol services.

Both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation clinics are available across the UK. Therefore, it is essential to research and find what will be best for you. Admitting you need help is the first step to a healthy recovery.