The problem with illicit cannabis is that it isn’t safe. In fact, it may even be deadly. Wondering how?
According to an article in the latest edition of the journal Forensic Science International, Spanish researchers have found E. coli bacteria in 75% of the 90 samples it acquired for testing from the Madrid region.
Thus, in a way, one can assume that the said cannabis samples were contaminated with human waste. What’s more worrisome though is the quantity of bacteria found in the samples, which is way higher than the maximum permitted by the United States and the European Union.
Ingesting E. Coli can result in a person being down with diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramping, etc. In some severe cases, it may even lead to death. For instance, in 2018, around 200 people fell sick and 5 people lost their lives in the United States owing to some Roman lettuce being contaminated with the bacteria.
Since heat kills most of the E. Coli, one is more likely to ingest it via under-cooked food.
The researchers further wrote that 30% of the samples actually had ‘fecal’ odor.
When it came to Aspergillus, 10% of the samples tested positive for the fungus. Not many people may know about this, but Aspergillus can force you down with pneumonia and other serious health complications, especially if you have a weak immune system. Interestingly, most people inadvertently inhale Aspergillus, a common mold, every day without getting sick.
Such a scenario isn’t limited to just one country or region. This ‘poop hash’ problem can pop-up at any place where illicit cannabis is available for purchase. No such issue is ever reported with legal cannabis because it undergoes stringent testing and is produced at safe manufacturing sites.
The researchers noted that these samples were contaminated with not only bacteria and fungi but also bits of hair and vegetable debris. ‘Thankfully enough’, none of the marijuana samples had been spiked with other drugs like amphetamines, cocaine, or opiate derivatives.
