Despite efforts from law enforcement, the death count from synthetic cannabis consumption keeps rising in Illinois. The latest victim to fall prey to the dangerous chemical cocktail was a young woman who died on March 28. Although officials have not yet determined the 22-year-old’s cause of death, her autopsy revealed the tell-tale signs of poisoning found in several similar cases of severe reactions to synthetic cannabis use across the state.
Chemicals Used In Synthetic Cannabinoids Linked To Severe Internal Bleeding
Going back to early March, Illinois’ Department of Public Health has received more than 89 reports of hospitalizations due to severe bleeding.
After recognizing a pattern in the cases of severe bleeding, state health officials began linking them to synthetic cannabis use.
Typically branded as “Spice” or “K2,” synthetic cannabinoids are lab-made analogs to the cannabinoids marijuana plants naturally produce, such as THC. But the less-than-perfect copies often produce unpredictable and sometimes lethal consequences.
Synthetic cannabinoids are more “potent” than natural plant cannabinoids and can, therefore, more powerfully affect the brain. Highs from the synthetic drug can be much more intense, longer-lasting, and debilitating.
Oftentimes, however, the adverse reactions to synthetic cannabis use stem just as much from the chemicals used to make the faux cannabinoids. And that seems to be the case for the 22-year-old woman whose recent death health officials have linked to her use of synthetic cannabis.
Specifically, the woman’s autopsy indicated the presence of the lethal anti-coagulant brodifacoum. Simply put, brodifacoum is a poison and widely used in pesticides and to kill rats and other rodents.
When ingested, brodifacoum causes severe internal bleeding. Its effects can last from weeks to months and are often fatal.
“Symptoms may range from