Fake Weed Warning: Kendall Sheriff Issues Alert On Synthetic Drug

KENDALL COUNTY, IL — The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office is warning the community about the dangers of synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids are human-made, mind-altering chemicals that are either sprayed on dried shredded plant material so they can be smoked or sold as liquids to be vaporized and inhaled in e-cigarettes and other devices.

They are sold for recreational drug use with claims they will provide the user the effects of cannabis. These products are also known as herbal or liquid incense and have brand names such as K2, Kush, Kronic, Spice, Black Mamba, Bombay Blue, Genie, and Zohai, but may also be packaged under other brand names.

These chemicals are called cannabinoids because they are similar to chemicals found in the marijuana plant. Because of this similarity, synthetic cannabinoids are sometimes misleadingly called “synthetic marijuana” or “fake weed”, and they are often marketed as safe, legal alternatives to that drug. In fact, they are not safe any may affect the brain much more powerfully than marijuana. The health effects of using synthetic cannabinoids can be unpredictable, harmful, and even life threatening.

Individuals who have been sickened by the synthetic cannabinoids have reported coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody nose, bleeding gums, and/or internal bleeding.

Numerous have tested positive for brodifacoum, a lethal anticoagulant often used in rat poison.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health as of April 12, 2018, IDPH has received reports of 122 cases, including three deaths, linked to an outbreak, since March 7, 2018; cases report using synthetic cannabinoid products before suffering from severe bleeding.

Although synthetic cannabinoids are found across Illinois and the U.S. in places like convenience stores, gas stations, drug paraphernalia shops, novelty stores, and online. A law had been passed in 2010 making K2 and other cannabinoids illegal as of January 1, 2011.

Anyone who has a reaction to synthetic cannabinoids, such as severe bleeding, should call 911 or have someone take them to the emergency department immediately.

An investigation of this outbreak is currently ongoing by the Illinois Department of Public Health and Poison Control. Find updates and further information here.

More information about synthetic cannabinoids can be found here.

Submitted by the Kendall County Sheriff's Office

Photo Illustration: Two forms of synthetic marijuana as they were packaged and sold in 2015. (Spencer Platt/News/Getty Images)