Purity - Cannabis contaminated with lead in Germany

[Mario Warner]

http://hanfverband.de/aktuell/meldung_1194506772.html

http://www.suchtzentrum.de/drugscout...as_FAQ.html#a3

apparently since months weed poisoned with lead has been sold in/thru Leipzig, east germany and has sent dozens of conumers to hospitals because of heavy blood poisoning.

what a world is this...

[Perception Addict]

Could you provide a translated version of this story? I speak a little, very poor German, but certainly not enough to navigate German websites. If you can't find a version in English, maybe you could give a lengthier, slightly more detailed summary of the article so us language challenged people know what's going on?

Thanks!

[Mario Warner]

Originally Posted by Perception Addict

Could you provide a translated version of this story? I speak a little, very poor German, but certainly not enough to navigate German websites. If you can't find a version in English, maybe you could give a lengthier, slightly more detailed summary of the article so us language challenged people know what's going on?

Thanks!

sorry, haven't got the time to translate this in detail, and as facts are still mostly uncertain it makes little sense to try. The only sure facts there are I have translated:

1. more than 20 persons showed extremely high lead values in their blood after smoking lead (pb) laced weed for a couple weeks to months.
2. particles of lead and lead sulfate have been found in weed specimen, up to 10% of weight of a bag.
3. since sept 07 this has been known to the local and federal authoritries
4. the german drug tzar Sabine Baetzing (quite some foxy chick btw ) preferred to ignore the facts and would refuse to publish warnings as this might give people the idea that there is safe cannabis use (which as we all know cannot be) only to change her position step by step the last copulple days, so some vague warnings are published and have appeared in some mainstream media.
5. only in november (!!!) the hospital authorities chose to publish the story
6. it is still uncertain who did it and why, rumors go from an assault by right wing skinheades (who - strange enough - dominate the general drug trade in the former eastern germany federal states) who want to poison stoners over some very dorkish growers who spread lead crumbs over their plants as this would add more weight than bird sand not knowing what this might cause to the secretary of state who trying to prove drugs are generally bad... nobody knows, everyone (xept for home growers ) is panicked and still people buy and smoke the stuff out of ignorance and/or greed...

why not use the google translation for more info

http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en

if it doesnt get you more info, you'll be in for a good laugh

All the best
Mario

Reputation Comments on this post:

Thanks for taking the time to summarize this article in English so more can benefit from it.

[Perception Addict]

Thanks for the summary, that's plenty of detail.

[heftig]

Hi swiy,

some stupid people contaminated weed with lead (Pb) and galena (PbS) in germany especially in leipzig and munich which is VERY dangerous!!!
Please take care and if you smoke something from this region in the last month go to the doctor and make a blood check!!!

Drug scout pdf:
Wir raten allen Personen, die im letzten halben Jahr
mindestens einmal Gras aus Leipzig (das nicht aus
Eigenanbau stammt) geraucht haben, sich so
schnell wie möglich auf erhöhte Bleiwerte testen zu
lassen.

Free translation:
We advise that every person who smoked weed for only one time in the last 6 months from leipzig (which isn't homegrow) to do a blood test as fast as possible.

So long,
swiheftig

Reputation Comments on this post:

maybe you should post this in the german part of the forum

[0utrider]

maybe you should post this in the german part of the forum

[Sitbcknchill]

Article:

Leipzig, Germany - Cannabis mysteriously laced with lead has made 19 people ill in the German city of Leipzig, police said Wednesday, issuing a warning to drug abusers to be on their guard against tainted marijuana. A federal police laboratory has confirmed a high level of lead in the dried leaf, while doctors have found dangerous concentrations in the blood of the 19 abusers. No one knows where it came from. An inquiry has begun with an appeal to dealers and users to have their stocks tested at the nearest police station. Senior detective Uwe Matthias said prosecuting the users would be "non-priority." Asked if this meant an amnesty, he said authorities could not issue a guarantee to let them off. The users had well over 2,000 micrograms of lead per litre of blood: the safe level is 300 and a level of 800 presages sickness. Symptoms of lead poisoning include cramps, abdominal pain and high blood pressure.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/138057.html






Information on lead poisoning.

Symptoms and effects:

The symptoms of chronic lead poisoning include neurological problems, such as reduced cognitive abilities, or nausea, abdominal pain, irritability, insomnia, metal taste in oral cavity, excess lethargy or hyperactivity, headache and, in extreme cases, seizure and coma. There are also associated gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss, which are common in acute poisoning. Other associated effects are anemia, kidney problems, and reproductive problems.

In humans, lead toxicity sometimes causes the formation of a bluish line along the gums, which is known as the "Burton's line", although this is very uncommon in young children. Blood film examination may reveal "basophilic stippling" of red blood cells, as well as the changes normally associated with iron deficiency anemia (microcytosis and hypochromia).

Lead affects the peripheral and central nervous system. The most common sign of peripheral neuropathy due to chronic lead poisoning is painless wristdrop (weakness of the extensor muscles of hand) which usually develops after many weeks of exposure.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Thanks for additional information!

[heftig]

@swioutriderx: for sure, but swim's proxy s***s ->all jobs done now
@Sitbcknchill thanks for addition!!!

[Alfa]

Dutch newspapers headlined yesterday that 'Cannabis gangs' in Venlo (Dutch- German border) are spreading contaminated cannabis.

[Dark_Man_Of_Peace]

WTF who would be that much of a dick? May a lightening bolt strike whomever contaminated those precious buds.

[cosmicruler]

Originally Posted by Dark_Man_Of_Peace

WTF who would be that much of a dick? May a lightening bolt strike whomever contaminated those precious buds.

SWIM seconds this statement by swidmop!!!

Reputation Comments on this post:

Try not to post short "I agree!" and "Yeah Exactly!" type posts. Thanks.

[Alfa]

FUBAR once talked to a coffeeshop owner who claimed he offered this to his German wholesale customers on their request. He said that he offers normal grass and grass treated with special powder to them. The special powder allows the customers to buy lower grade (cheaper grass) and sell it for more since the powder looks like THC crystals.

Since there is so little to make on the sale of cannabis and the risks involved with smuggling it from the Netherlands to Germany, two third of his German customers choose the contaminated grass. The coffeeshop owner says that German dealers will sell for similar prices as coffeeshops, but before it reaches the end customer it goes through many hands, each needing a bit of profit.

[Paracelsus]

^^^ Is there any evidence or indications that that powder contains lead? I find this quite odd, since lead was only found in grass around Leipzig.

The practice of cutting cannabis with various powders is not new. I remember reading that powdered glass was a very common adulterant in cannabis sold in France last year (or in 2006, I don't know).

[Alfa]

The coffeeshop owner Fubar talked to did not add lead.
Several Dutch newspapers headlined Friday and Saturday that the leaded cannabis would come from Venlo. However, after some researching it seems that their basis for this claim is thin. This is only based upon persistent rumours.

[heftig]

Hi,

in swims opinion the lead isn't for make more profit swim thinks there are a lot of other harmless substances to get poorer quality. Pb and PbS is very dangerous and the person knows what he/she does.

Cheers,
swiheftig

*/edit: @Paracelsus: not only leipzig also munich

[0utrider]

there actually is a spray or powder on the market for "plants" (i.e. cannabis-plants) that i supposed to make the buds bigger, but in reality just makes them look bigger by spraying a mix of proteins, karbohydrates & color on em so they look bigger. this might be it

no led though.. im just wondering how could smn possibly add lead and people dont see it?

[heftig]

It grown together with the bud somebody put it on while the growth. One report said that you can see the PbS under a microskope. Swiheftig knows the substances which is swioutsiderx is talking about. For sure, Pb and PbS are not for better appearance

[Sitbcknchill]

It might not be a case of intentional contamination. This could be coming from a contaminated water source or contaminated soil beds with high concentrations of heavy metals.


Check out Flin Flon Mine area contamination for an example in Canada.

[heftig]

Yes of course it's possible. Especially in eastern germany swiheftig thinks.
We will see.

[geezaman]

Would inhaling lead vapours actually effect the high obtained from smoking the contaminated cannabis? SWIM understands lead to naturally degrade into a white powder... if it is being contaminated on purpose could it be lead in this form? (although that would be lead oxide wouldn't it? still highly toxic SWIM assumes.)


mad hatter anyone?

[Pondlife]

From The April 10th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/358/15/1641.pdf

Lead Poisoning Due to Adulterated Marijuana

To the Editor: As a consequence of strict regulations,
lead intoxication has not occurred in Germany
in recent decades. Recently, during a period
of 3 to 4 months, 29 patients (16 to 33 years of age)
were admitted to four different hospitals in the
greater Leipzig area (population, approximately
650,000) with classic signs and symptoms of lead
intoxication. Twenty of these patients were admitted
to our hospital (University Hospital Leipzig),
16 on an emergency basis (Table 1). The patients
presented with abdominal cramps, nausea, anemia
of varying severity, and fatigue. Most patients had
basophilic stippling and a “Burton’s line,” and
some had neurologic symptoms. In other hospitals,
one patient had severe encephalopathy with hallucinations
and peripheral neuropathy with permanent
extensor palsy in the forearm, and another
patient underwent exploratory laparoscopy.[1]

The diagnosis was quickly established, and
chelation therapy was effective, but despite great
efforts by health authorities and police, the source
of lead could not be identified. After 8 weeks, we
detected a common pattern: the patients were
young, were unemployed or were students, had a
history of smoking, and had body piercings. On
questioning, all the patients eventually conceded
that they were regular users of marijuana smoked
in “joint” form or with the use of a water pipe.
We recovered either half-used packages or aliquots
of “home supplies” of marijuana from three patients,
and we identified elemental lead by means
of atomic absorptiometry and Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol
by means of high-pressure liquid chromatography.
One package contained obvious lead
particles (Fig. 1); this strongly indicated that the
lead was deliberately added to the package rather
than inadvertently incorporated into the marijuana
plants from contaminated soil. At this point, we
involved the police, and a full criminal investigation
was begun. Health authorities immediately
started an anonymous screening program for
marijuana users. After 2 weeks, 145 persons had
used this service. A total of 95 of these persons
had blood lead levels that required treatment
(>25 μg per deciliter), and some of these persons
had dangerous levels of lead (>80 μg per deciliter).

The current working hypothesis of the police is
that because of its high specific gravity and inconspicuous
grayish color, lead was used to increase
the weight of street marijuana sold by the
gram and thereby to maximize profits among dealers.
In the material that was obtained, the lead
content on average was 10% by weight, which translates
into a profit increase of approximately €1,000
($1,500.00) per kilogram of marijuana. Lead particles
smoked in a joint, which can have a core
temperature of 1200°C,[2] are very effectively absorbed
in the respiratory tract. The medical community,
including pediatricians,[3] should consider
adulterated marijuana as a potential source of lead
intoxication.

Franziska Busse, M.D.
Leyla Omidi, M.D.
Alexander Leichtle, M.D.
University Hospital Leipzig
D-04103 Leipzig, Germany

Michael Windgassen, M.D.
Dialysis Center Grimma
04668 Grimma, Germany

Eyleen Kluge, M.D.
Michael Stumvoll, M.D.
University Hospital Leipzig
D-04103 Leipzig, Germany

[1] Garcia RC, Snodgrass WR. Lead toxicity and chelation therapy.
Am J Health Syst Pharm 2007;64:45-53.

[2] Baker RR. Temperature distribution inside a burning cigarette.
Nature 1974;247:405-6.

[3] Needleman HL, Schell A, Bellinger D, Leviton A, Allred EN.
The long-term effects of exposure to low doses of lead in childhood:
an 11-year follow-up report. N Engl J Med 1990;322:83-8.

Other DF threads on this topic:

[stoneinfocus]

Maybe the DEA, christians or islams incorporated it, to make MJ-smokers living to fail and/or secure/underline their jobs or moral function, at the same time starting a counter home-growing warfare. P

[Alfa]

A new entry has been added to Drugs Archive

Description:
As a consequence of strict regulations, lead intoxication has not occurred in Germany in recent decades. Recently, during a period of 3 to 4 months, 29 patients (16 to 33 years of age) were admitted to four different hospitals in the greater Leipzig area (population, approximately 650,000) with classic signs and symptoms of lead intoxication. Twenty of these patients were admitted to our hospital (University Hospital Leipzig), 16 on an emergency basis.

The patients presented with abdominal cramps, nausea, anemia of varying severity, and fatigue. Most patients had basophilic stippling and a "Burton's line," and some had neurologic symptoms. In other hospitals, one patient had severe encephalopathy with hallucinations and peripheral neuropathy with permanent extensor palsy in the forearm, and another patient underwent exploratory laparoscopy.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit Lead Poisoning Due to Adulterated Marijuana (Germany)
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Important to be aware of this, thanks

[Expat98]

How terrible. This is important information, thanks for posting. It seems that marijuana contamination is starting to become a real problem in the EU. For any smokers over there, I suggest reading this DF thread also, if you haven't already:

Danger: Cut weed in the EU! (Glass and other dangerous stuff)

[sneak2012]

init this is fuckin horrible! the worst shit that could happen a tell ya! fuckin lead some heavy shit too init