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The Danger Lurking in Street Cannabis: The Rise of Fentanyl-Contaminated Products by Dr. Benjamin Caplan

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approved for medical use as a painkiller. It is also illegally sold as a street drug. Notorious for its lethal potency, even the smallest amounts, akin to a couple of grains of sand, can be enough to cause a deadly overdose.

Individuals who are exposed to fentanyl-contaminated products may initially experience: 

Euphoria

Hallucinations

Drowsiness

Confusion

Dizziness

Constipation

Nausea and vomiting

Muscle rigidity

Reduced drive to breathe

These symptoms can escalate to severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, or even coma. In the event of an overdose, and without prompt medical intervention or the administration of Narcan (naloxone), a drug that can reverse fentanyl’s effects, progression can culminate in cyanosis (a bluish discoloration of the skin due to poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation), hypotension (light-headedness due to low blood pressure), bradycardia (abnormally slow heart rate), and death.

Fentanyl can also severely compromise the medicinal nature of cannabis in managing pain, inflammation, and sleep disorders. It binds with the powerful opiate-sensitive system of receptors in the body, blocking cannabis molecules from these same receptors and thereby blocking the known healing benefits, including reducing inflammation, limiting the excessive signaling of pain, and aiding in relaxation that promotes better sleep.

There have been reports of fentanyl making its way into street cannabis, joining a list of dangerous cannabis additives that includes cocaine, PCP, and heroin. The potency and addictive nature of fentanyl, combined with its cheap production costs, may make it an attractive additive for unscrupulous dealers. The unpredictable and concealed dangers make every street purchase akin to a game of Russian roulette.

There is a secure and trustworthy solution: legal, regulated medical and adult-use dispensaries. 

State-licensing of storefronts prioritizes consumer safety and product purity by requiring third-party testing, which guarantees products safe from bacteria, mold, chemical solvents, and other contaminants like fentanyl. In the 38 states that allow medical cannabis programs, accessing medical dispensaries requires a consultation with a healthcare provider. 

In the 23 states currently permitting legal access to cannabis, adults aged 21 and over can find a wide variety of safe products. What’s more, individuals who are looking for the therapeutic benefits of cannabis without the “high” can purchase CBD products in many retail stores and on the internet. These products offer a non-altering yet effective alternative to products containing THC that are regulated.

As a licensed doctor who specializes in cannabis medicine, I create treatment protocols with products for a wide variety of conditions and ailments, ranging from debilitating pain and depression to severe stress and difficulty sleeping. 

I give my patients clear instructions on how to buy, what to buy, and what to take. The number one rule is to never buy cannabis products on the street, or even from illegal cannabis shops that are popping up in cities like New York City, where cannabis is legal, but the availability of regulated dispensaries has been slow to scale.

Street cannabis is not a safe bet. Without stringent testing and quality standards, one can never be sure of a product’s safety or purity. Legal dispensaries offer a transparent and trustworthy alternative. Their commitment to quality assurance and consumer safety justifies the higher product price.

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Image via Image via Jeff Anderson/Flickr. The above featured image has been cropped and zoomed in.

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