In Illinois, six people suffer severe bleeding after consuming synthetic weed. This is one of many recent occurrences that reveal how dangerous synthetic cannabis can be. Here’s what happened last week.
Illinois’ Illegal and Dangerous Synthetic Weed
Six people living in northeastern Illinois have experienced severe bleeding due to synthetic weed. The first instances occurred on March 10 according to Across Colorado Patch. Since then, doctors have diagnosed four other people with bleeding as a result of consuming synthetic weed, beginning on March 23. These people have since been hospitalized.
All six of these people consumed synthetic cannabinoids and live in the same area. Authorities are investigating which synthetic weed product is responsible.
What is Synthetic Weed?
Synthetic weed also goes by the name of K2 and spice. As we reported, synthetic weed isn’t weed at all. Not only does synthetic weed not contain cannabinoids, but it’s made from manufactured chemicals. These chemicals bind to the body’s cannabinoid receptors the way that natural-occurring cannabinoids do, but they interact with our cannabinoid system in vastly different ways than THC or CBD.
How Dangerous is Synthetic Weed?
Since the chemicals used in synthetic weed differ widely, we don’t fully understand their effect.
However, we do know that synthetic weed is extremely dangerous and potentially deadly. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, “The health effects from using synthetic cannabinoids can be unpredictable and harmful—even life-threatening.”
Synthetic cannabis can lead to seizures, kidney failure, heart attacks, bleeding and even psychosis. In the latest case in Illinois, six people suffer severe bleeding after consuming synthetic weed because it stopped their blood from congealing.
Director of Illinois Department of Public Health Dr. Nirav D. Shah said,