In all, two newspapers (one broadsheet and one online newspaper, 11 and 12^th January 2007) and two online cannabis organisations, issued a public health warning regarding batches of cannabis that have been contaminated with glass beads [1]. 

The online cannabis group Cannaprag.net [2], other wise known as ‘Cannabis Pragmatism’ who aim to “campaign for laws which both reduce the potential for harm from cannabis to a minimum and protect the vulnerable” issued a press release 01/01/07  claiming that cannabis currently on sale in the United Kingdom (UK) is now “suffering widespread contamination”.  

During the summer of 2006 and following ‘Operation Keymer’ police forces successfully began a series of raids against cannabis growing crops, which resulted in a widespread shortag of the drug all over the country.  As a consequence, the UK Cannabis Internet Activists (UKCIA) website [3] received reports of herbal cannabis (skunk, weed) that contained ‘sand’ or ‘grit’ particles.  In general, ‘grit weed’ as it has become known, was filling the gap left by the cannabis shortage and reports of contaminated ‘grit’ weed was reported on UKCIA’s forum board from the south west of England to northern Scotland.

According to Cannaprag.net when they first learned about the contaminated cannabis they though it was harmless and that sand/grit was being added to cannabis by growers or distributors in order to make the cannabis deal heavier by increasing the weight and making the drug more expensive.  As more and more reports came in regarding the contaminated cannabis, it began to become apparent that there was a potential danger to the health of users who were smoking this drug since photos of the contaminated leaves appeared to be showing tiny fragments of glass under flashlight (see below).

Picture Source: http://www.cannaprag.net/comment/070101_pics.htm

Title, Authors, Source

Guardian Newspaper, Warning Issued Over Cannabis Adulterated With Glass Beads, Friday, 12^th January 2007.  James Randerson, science correspondent.

Objective

The main objective of the press release was to make aware and inform cannabis users and dealers of batches of contained cannabis that are strewn with glass beads and pose a health risk to the user.  

Findings and Health Concerns

According to the Guardian Newspaper [1], this type of contaminated cannabis can be identified by rubbing the leaves between the fingers and the texture will feel granular.  

An anonymous scientist analysed and posted their findings of the contaminated cannabis on the UKCIA website and stated that the granules are actually small beads (50-120 micrometers diameter) “made of some non-soluble high melting point glass like substance” [3] and if smoked could pass into the lungs causing devastating results. 

Picture Source: http://www.cannaprag.net/comment/070101_pics.htm

The French Observatory of Drugs and Drug Addiction also undertook an analysis of the contaminated cannabis and they found that the leaves contained glass particles between 0.02 and 0.3 millimetres across [1].  However, Dr Russell (Imperial College, London) said that if the particles were above 0.015 millimetres then they would be too big to pass into the lungs and it is more likely that they would drop into the users’ mouth and/or throat, although using a filter could prevent them from entering the mouth.

Cannabis users on the UKCIA website that had tried the contaminated weed reported mouth ulcers and sore throats as well as chesty coughs [3], and according to the Belfast Telegraph on-line newspaper, the organisation Crosscare has had around 20 calls from concerned cannabis users and is warning that the adulterated cannabis can cause severe chest infections and discomfort [4].

Conclusions

This warning highlights the problem that stems from illegal drug use and alerting users about possible harmful products. A spokesperson from Cannprag.net, Mr Williams, stated, “what has become clear through this incident is that the government has no method of warning illegal drug users of dangers such as this” [3].  However, there is no evidence in relation to the prevalence of ‘grit cannabis’ in the UK, as case reports from user-oriented websites are not robust and cannot be taken as evidence that this particular type of cannabis is being found across the country.

References

[1] Guardian Newspaper, Warning Issued Over Cannabis Adulterated With Glass Beads, Friday, 12^th January 2007. 

[2] http://www.cannaprag.net/comment/070101.htme

[3] http://www.ukcia.org/

[4] Belfast Telegraph Newspaper, Friday 12^th January 2007 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/article2146157.ece