In Chicago,Illinois 117 patients arrive in emergency rooms with some suspicious symptoms. Few people presented with bleeding from nose and mouth while others were vomiting blood. Some people were full of bruises on their arms and legs. Most of the people among them were young and they were healthy before that’s why they were worried a lot that what happened to them.
After the investigations it was found that these people inhaled synthetic marijuana laced with a pesticide called brodifacoum that was mostly used as rat poison and cause severe bleeding. 117 people were sickened by this outbreak in Illinois and and 3 of them died. But the state said that they have seen this for the first time, they reported that if this bleeding is left untreated it can be dreadful.
Synthetic cannabinoids — often called Spice, K2 or fake weed — have been tied to 117 cases of severe bleeding, including three deaths, across Chicago and areas in central Illinois. -(CNN)
Bruce, Executive Anderson, executive director of the Maryland Poison Center said in the statement that “we are warning people to not use synthetic cannabinoid”. It was never ever safe before but recently more adverse effects were reported like cannabinoid associated coagulopathy.
Synthetic cannabinoids are available in two forms, smokable or vaped form. Its actual ingredients are a mystery and they are very dangerous. Manufacturers keep on changing the ingredients. Synthetic cannabinoids are known to cause temporary psychosis, hallucinations, and sometimes death. Brodifacoum is the common ingredient of rodenticide, and most of the victims were tested positive for brodifacoum.
Brodifacoum and other similar ingredients prevents vitamin K from binding to its receptors, that why blood does not clot properly and excessive bleeding occurs. Patients have reported buying products under the names of K2, Spice, or “legal weed” from various convenience stores, dealers, and friends around the state. If any of you experience bleeding from your ears, bruising, bleeding from nose or gums, don’t take them and go for emergency treatment with someone or call ambulance.
Hospitals have been reporting cases each day to Illinois’s health department, as federal and local law enforcement agencies search for sources of the tainted drugs. Synthetic marijuana is illegally sold in shiny foil packages with names like insane. Synthetic marijuana is a dried plant, sprayed with chemicals and then smoked. Dr. Steven Aks, an emergency medicine physician and the director of medical toxicology for the Cook County Health and Hospitals System said that “it’s been really kind of unbelievable”.
Related Article: Illinois Senate views Marijuana as Opioid Alternative, The Senate voted 44-6
She said that those people who are using this recreational drug, none of them would have expected that it will turn into a bleeding problem. Investigations have been carried out. But still a lot questions are unanswered like from where this drug is coming? And how far it has spread? Who is responsible for its availability? How many more people will be affected by it? How did a dangerous chemical like brodifacoum, which does not create a sensation of being high, end up in synthetic marijuana?
Dr. Patrick Lank of Northwestern Memorial Hospital said that this is something not previously seen. Renee Funk, the associate director for emergency management for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the agency is sending a team to Illinois to assist with the investigation.
Summing up The Story:
- 117 people in Illinois have been hospitalized and three have died from severe bleeding after using synthetic marijuana known as ‘fake weed’, ‘K2’ or ‘spice’
- Many of those affected have tested positive for rat poisoning, which blocks the blood’s ability to coagulate and repair damaged blood vessels
- The Illinois Public Health Department is struggling to identify the source of the contaminated products
Synthetic pot contains hundreds of man-made chemicals that act on the same cell receptors in the brain as THC does with marijuana - Hundreds of people across the US have been hospitalized or killed as a result of synthetic pot in recent years
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Things to consider before using marijuana
If you have sleep issues, choose a strain heavy on indica. These strains have a sleepy effect, which may help you sleep better at night. The sleepiness combined with the pain relief is very beneficial for many patients with fibromyalgia. Some examples include African Kush and Northern Lights. Smoking or vaping these strains provide you with the fastest effect.
Marijuana is used for a wide number of conditions, although research has only found it to be beneficial for a few. Currently, there is good scientific evidence for its use in treating chronic pain and MS symptoms, including nerve pain and muscle spasms. Critical Mass is a heavy indica strain whose tingly full-body effects radiate throughout the body, swiftly bowling down pain and stress.
This strain sometimes expresses itself with enhanced levels of CBD for even better pain relief. Also preferred for treating depression, insomnia, and muscle spasms, Critical Mass is definitely a strain you’ll want in your medicine cabinet. Many fibromyalgia patients turn to edibles to get them through the pain during the night. Edibles come in a variety of options, from cookies and ice cream to crackers and nut mixes. Advancements in technology make marijuana edibles more appealing and with more precise dosing than in the past, Edibles take a lot longer to kick in anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
Edibles typically last longer than smoked flower, and can aid in both pain relief and sedation. Edible doses vary from person to person, and each of us has a unique physiology. Doctors recommend starting very low with edible dosing, around 5 mg, giving it up to four hours to kick in. While four hours may seem like a long time, depending on your digestive system, your diet, and a number of other factors, it can take the cannabis time to travel through your system.
Keep a detailed diary on your experiences and increase dosing in small increments to find your comfortable mg dosing. If you also experience muscle spasms, strains that have both THC and CBD may help ease those spasms. White Berry and One to One are examples of strains that may help. Tinctures are cannabis extracts that are made using alcohol, so beware of their strong taste.
They typically come in small bottles with droppers that can be used to add the medicine to one’s food or beverages. This is the main advantage of tinctures if you feel the onset of fibromyalgia associated pain, you can simply add a few drops of tincture to your morning coffee. Tinctures can also last for years if stored in a dark and cool environment. Sublingual is just a fancy way of saying “under the tongue.”
Like tinctures, sublingual sprays are typically made with alcohol and look similar to the sprays some people use to ward-off bad breath, if you’re in a public space and feel the onset of fibromyalgia associated pain, sublingual sprays allow medical marijuana patients to quickly spray medicine under their tongues without drawing unwanted attention.
Role of marijuana in treating Chronic illness
There isn’t a lot of research on cannabis as a treatment for chronic illness like FMS,CFS, ME, but clinical studies using synthesized THC for symptom management shows promising results. It’s estimated that between five and 12 million Americans are affected by fibromyalgia, and most of them will be trying to ease the pain using a mixture of over-the-counter medications and prescriptions drugs. However, many fibromyalgia patients are turning to cannabis (medical marijuana) to help ease some of the symptoms associated with the condition.
Those experiencing the chronic pain of fibromyalgia are increasingly turning away from potentially dangerous and addictive opioids, and towards cannabis as a safer, more effective treatment option. Patients used cannabis not only to alleviate pain but for almost all symptoms associated to fibromyalgia, and no one reported worsening of symptoms following cannabis use.
Cannabis users in the study also reported higher overall mental health summary scores than did non-users. The present results together with previous evidence seem to confirm the beneficial effects of cannabinoids on fibromyalgia symptoms. Marijuana is known for relieving pain, which lines up perfectly with the primary symptom of fibromyalgia.
Traditional pain relievers and other medications prescribed to treat the condition often come up short. For this reason, many patients with the condition turn to the pain-relieving properties of marijuana for fibromyalgia. Research shows that using medical marijuana is an effective way to relieve the pain and anxiety associated with the disease. In 1999, the Institute of Medicine found in their report titled Marijuana and Medicine that the cannabinoids found in marijuana can relieve a variety of symptoms, including chronic pain.
Additionally, The Journal of Pain reports that patients with fibromyalgia who were treated with a synthetic form of marijuana showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety. Those interested in marijuana as a treatment for pain symptoms should check their state’s laws in relation to the use of cannabis. They should also consult their doctor for further advice and treatment. Marijuana should only be used under the care of a health professional.
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Also Read:
Synthetic Marijuana Approved By DEA for Medicine While the Real Thing Remains Ilegal
Reference:
- Tainted Synthetic Marijuana Has Been Sickening People Across the Midwest By JULIE BOSMAN via NY Times
- The Outbreak of Severe Bleeding Caused by Synthetic Weed Has Now Spread Beyond Illinois by Ed Cara via GIZMODO
- Eye-bleeding outbreak rages on in Illinois By MEGAN SHEETS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM