Bigfoot, Loch Ness, fentanyl-tipped marijuana

In a new press release, the Washington State Department of Health shared its concerns about a fentanyl overdose and blamed cannabis pharmacies for the threatening situation. They claimed that cannabis users need better protection because cannabis can be sold in conjunction with the deadly drug.

However, journalists and cannabis researchers are still at odds about the possibility of a fentanyl weed overdose and whether it exists. You also wonder if the source of the information is legitimate and if it isn’t just a myth.

The discussion is taken seriously because nobody wants to put themselves in danger when consuming substances. But is this fentanyl-laced weed story a fact? We must start with the state’s concerns and fears for its citizens.

The state’s concerns with fentanyl-infused weed

State officials claim fentanyl-related overdoses are on the rise across the Washington district. They also require people to take naloxone when they want to consume drugs purchased from pharmacies or marijuana dispensaries. You should also share the information with friends and family who may be doing the same.

The myth of fentanyl-containing marijuana has also been described by Buzzfeed as one of the most brutal urban legends related to America’s overdose crisis. They believe that as federal and state officials perpetuate the “myth” it will become more difficult for people to follow the advice.

But it is important to note at this point that states will not arbitrarily request a change in the behavior of any substance unless they have irrefutable evidence of the harm they are causing.

Some cannabis users who have been using the substance for a long time are unsure how to feed people with such a deadly drug weed. Most worryingly, the drug is even more expensive (per gram) and more difficult to obtain than cannabis.

The state also urges its citizens to “assume” that any substance they buy from a drugstore or marijuana dispensary may have fentanyl added to it.

The negative effects of fentanyl-infused weed on individuals

Preliminary data from the state shows that approximately 418 overdose deaths in 2021 rose significantly from the 378 deaths recorded in 2020. Of the 418 overdose-related deaths in 2021, 46% (that’s 191) of the deaths are caused by fentanyl.

Many of the victims are under the age of 30, young people with a bright future, whose lives have been shortened by fentanyl. So the state has every reason to be concerned, especially as weed containing fentanyl is stealing the lives of its young and lively youth.

These data on overdose death rates further support the point that people taking fentanyl and other types of opioids should also take naloxone.

But is marijuana responsible for these sad numbers?

Why Fentanyl Shouldn’t Call Marijuana Fatal

Georgia state officials issued a warning last month that fentanyl overdose is dangerous. This time they tried to blame marijuana, which made it appear that marijuana is responsible for EVERYTHING fentanyl-laced weed.

They announced that any recreational use of narcotics such as cannabis should be labeled a “serious” threat to one’s life. Other organizations and government institutions issue the same warnings. Some of these agencies are the Camden County Emergency Management Agency and law enforcement agencies in other local cities.

Fentanyl is an effective drug that prevents a person from breathing when ingested. With just two milligrams of the drug (depending on height, previous use and tolerance level), the person can stop breathing.

However, the Drugs and Environment Agency says there is no evidence to support the claim that overdose deaths are due to marijuana. If there are no reports of such deaths, why is marijuana blamed for such overdose deaths?

Marijuana shouldn’t get the same labeling as fentanyl because it has many positive and medicinal benefits that people need. Focusing on marijuana as the sole culprit for this situation is another deliberate attempt to create the appearance that the substance poses a threat to consumers. For this reason, experts see it as a myth rather than a truthful representation of the role of marijuana in such stories.

Wait a minute, where do these stories come from?

Well, the fentanyl cannabis myth took off a lot in 2017. That year, Hamilton County, Ohio coroner, Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco, known to have “seen” a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine, and a mixture of marijuana and fentanyl.

Interestingly, the follow-up interview with Dr. Sammarco something very different from their original statement. She was tasked with admitting that she had seen no tangible evidence that fentanyl was actually marijuana added. In reality, she was just repeating what Senator Rob Portman had said with no credible sources.

Additional coverage in the Cincinnati Inquirer also discovered evidence that fentanyl-infused marijuana is just “wild speculation.” With these facts against fiction, it is evident that cannabis has been blamed for fentanyl’s effects on young people.

Bottom line

For many years, marijuana received bad press for being the “drug” for criminals and other people who commit social vices. Hence, it is not uncommon for state officials to point a finger at cannabis, even when it is not true.

There is still no evidence that cannabis dispensaries are promoting fentanyl-infused marijuana, and most experts still believe this is a myth. Regardless of its status as a myth or not, some truths remain clear;

Most of the fentanyl-spiked cannabis news stories appear to be far more fictional, with little to no evidence to support some of the stories. States need to do more research before they can reach conclusions.

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