Impurities in black market marijuana

So far, cannabis is illegal in Poland. The exception is a prescription drug. Despite this marijuana is very widespread and used for recreational purposes not only in Poland, but also in Europe and around the world. Despite the strict regulations related to the possession and sale of this plant, it can be easily purchased in any major city in Poland. Unfortunately the quality and origin of the black market goods remains a mystery. Harmful substances are often added to illegal weed to enhance, for example, its psychoactive effect or taste. In the grass purchased on the street, there may be other substances negatively affecting human health. Is there a chance to be able to independently determine whether a given marijuana is baptized or soaked?

Why black market marijuana can be dangerous

SUBSTANCES ADDED TO MARIJUANA FROM THE BLACK MARKET

Buying weed on the black market, we can cut ourselves quite a bit. Unfortunately, there are a lot of dishonest people in the world who are focused only on profit, people who do not care about the health of other people. If such a person is selling illegal marijuana, there is a high probability that he is cheating on it, and on purpose. Poor quality grass from the black market is apparently not uncommon, but what could be hidden in such goods? What can such a dishonest dealer add to the green price?

Below are some examples of what marijuana may be (intentionally) contaminated with.

Brix

Brix is ​​a leavening agent that some illegal traders (supposedly) use to increasing the weight of marijuana buds. Unfortunately, this treatment makes the herb harmful to health, all thanks to the substances released during smoking carcinogenic substances. Symptoms after burning one soaked marijuana to shortness of breath, phlegm or cough. Brix contains, among others: sugar and liquid synthetic materials (waxes).

How to check if the herb is dipped in brix? Unfortunately, just from the appearance of the buds, it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between dipped marijuana and pure marijuana. Characteristically, when smoking such brix-contaminated buds, it is produced hard ash. Additionally, the twist is made of such material it will burn noticeably badlyand produced the smoke will never be tasty.

Sand in dried hemp?

Black market marijuana in extreme and very primitive fraud attempts can contain sand. A little sand in the subject increases its mass, but it is not indifferent to the health of the smoker. Burnt sand can cause respiratory problems.

Talk

As you know buds with a lot of resin look more white. Unscrupulous dealers add talc to marijuana to imitate a large amount of trichomes. Such tops look nice, as if sprinkled with snow. What should make you think is them suspicious lightness. Truly frosted dried flowers tend to have more weight, however talc is very light. Such an addition to marijuana negatively affects its taste and can be very dangerous for the respiratory tract.

Sugar water

Another method of dishonest marijuana dealers is spraying buds with water with dissolved sugar. Droplets of such water congeal on the surface of the herb and, apart from increasing the mass, they also give it a better visual effect. In this case, it is very easy to find out before smoking that we are dealing with baptized marijuana. If you have any suspicions, just lick the top lightly, sweet aftertaste will dispel all doubts. Other worrying signs are: fading the joint, difficulty in burning such grass, and also throat irritating smoke.

Hair spray

Sprinkling marijuana buds with hairspray produces a similar visual effect to sugar water. It's about making the tops heavier as usual, but also more shiny effect, as if made of resin. An illegal subject treated with hairspray will be hard, will burn hard, and its smell will reveal a dishonest trader. Smoking such contaminated marijuana is very dangerous to your health. The compounds in hairspray are carcinogenic, and symptoms after smoking such herbs include coughing and sore throat.

ACCIDENTAL CONTAMINANTS IN MARIJUANA

Any product, including plant products, can be used contaminated as a result of improper handling, storage or negligence during the manufacturing process. No dealer examines his goods, among others. due to its illegality. Medical marijuana from pharmacies is tested and must meet certain standards, so it should be completely safe. Tops of illegal marijuana may be contaminated with fungi, heavy metals, fertilizers and pesticides. This type of contamination may result from errors during marijuana cultivation or errors at further stages of production, i.e. at the stage of processing or drying hemp.

Contaminants with heavy metals and pesticides are also found in food. In the case of smoking polluted weed, they go directly to the body. In the digestive tract, however, less of them are absorbed due to gastric acid and the action of many enzymes. However long-term exposure to heavy metals and pesticides from food is associated with the development of autoimmune diseases.

Many of the side effects that are erroneously attributed to marijuana are related to the effects of contaminants in cannabis. The effect of long-term smoking of marijuana contaminated with pesticides and heavy metals is the so-called holes in the head, nausea, vomiting or heart palpitations.

Contaminants in marijuana with heavy metals

Unfortunately, black market marijuana often contains heavy metals in too high concentrations. In such contaminated grass it can most often be found copper, arsenic or lead. As we mentioned, long-term exposure to heavy metals can lead to the development of autoimmune diseases. Heavy metal poisoning symptoms include: nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tingling in the limbs, vomiting, and chills.

Pesticides and fertilizers in marijuana 

Pesticides in the cultivation of hemp they are intended to support the plant in greater and more efficient growth and protect it, among others. against pests and mold. These pesticides should no longer be present in the finished product, which is dried hemp, because they are harmful. Breeders who do not have the appropriate knowledge or are only focused on profits may spray plants until the last minute, which is why toxic substances will be present in the finished product. Unfortunately, in black market drought, it is not possible to detect pesticides with home methods, and even more so, it is not possible to test such drought in the laboratory. Many legal CBD products also do not contain this type of testing. Therefore, untested, illegal dried hemp may contain such pesticides it can cause inflammatory reactions in the body and damage to the nervous system.

Incorrect use of fertilizers in cannabis cultivation can also lead to impurities in the drought. Fertilizers help growers get bigger yields and even higher concentrations of cannabinoids, including THC. Too late application of fertilizers, lack of proper knowledge causes that ready-made tops contain carcinogenic substances.

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Molds and fungi in contaminated marijuana

Mold can develop in hemp buds already during the cultivation stage. Some varieties are particularly susceptible to mold development, especially when grown in an unfavorable environment. Poor weather conditions, poor ventilation, inexperience and even the use of fertilizers can encourage mold growth in cannabis. Removing the plants and then drying them should also take place under appropriate conditions. Buds that are not dried inside will quickly become a habitat for bacteria and fungi that are harmful to health.

Moldy buds are easy to identify by smell. Everyone knows what fungus and mold smell like. If you notice a disturbing smell, it is also worth taking a closer look at the marijuana buds they may have White stains. Under no circumstances should such tops be smoked. Consuming such moldy cannabis flowers can cause respiratory problems, headaches or irritation of mucous membranes. Mushrooms are there especially dangerous for allergy sufferers, asthmatics and people with weakened immunity.

How to check if buds are not contaminated?

In the case of dried herbs from a legal source, the most accurate and easiest way to check its quality is: Laboratory tests. Unfortunately, if marijuana comes from the black market, you can't order such research without running the risk of legal repercussions.

How to recognize a dipped herb?

Are there any symptoms in the appearance or smell of the herb that may indicate contamination? Unfortunately, visual assessment can only in some cases help identify poor-quality dried fruit.

-Check how to recognize poor quality dried hemp-

Our nose will definitely tell us more, but it won't capture everything. Marijuana contaminated with chemicals – dipped herb – may have a different one, more artificial scent. However, it should be remembered that some marijuana strains have a smell similar to that of fuel, and there are also strains that have a very earthy and spicy aroma. Less experienced people may have doubts in such cases. However, in the case of typical chemical smell of the herb, it's better not to risk it.

If your marijuana joint is from an illegal source goes out and is generally difficult to burn, this may be a sign that you are dealing with baptized weed, but in this case we can also make a mistake. Similar symptoms will occur, for example, if the buds are not dried enough. There will definitely be another red flag an unpleasant, unnatural, chemical smell or taste.

Symptoms after using contaminated marijuana

Most often, owners of contaminated herb from the black market find out about it after consuming it. If after smoking a joint type symptoms occur nausea, hallucinations, shortness of breath, headaches this may be a sign that we have come across a dishonest dealer. If the symptoms listed above do not go away, you need to contact us report to the doctor.

What are the risks of consuming contaminated marijuana from the black market?

If illegal marijuana contains any harmful additives or impurities, burning it can have many adverse health effects, and in the worst cases, it can lead to death. Depending on the type of impurities and the amount of baptized marijuana taken, they can occur problems in the functioning of the neurological system, liver, lungs, kidney dysfunction or kidney damage, as well as disorders in the hormonal system.
Hemp and marijuana can be harmful even when they come from a legal source. A perfect example is buds that are too moist where it can develop mold and bacteria. The presence of mold and other pathogens in dried fruit can cause a number of infections and problems with the immune system.

Summary

As long as marijuana remains illegal, there will always be a black market with unreliable commodities that can threaten a person's life or health. Undoubtedly, the issue would be solved by the decriminalization of marijuana, which would allow adult consumers to grow and possess dried cannabis for their own use. If Poland decided to take this step, it would not be the first. Germany is vigorously working to ensure that marijuana and cultivation in small quantities is allowed, in the Czech Republic recreational smokers are not punished with imprisonment.

People using medical marijuana have access to the drug, but it is still not reimbursed, the quantity is limited, and the price is staggering. Decriminalization would not only allow green-lovers to smoke without health concerns, but would also enable low-income patients to be treated for MM.