Cannabis & Fake Weed

Benefits or harm?

There are discussions in and out of the medical community on the benefits that marijuana may have for people suffering from various diseases.

We've been told

Smoking cigarettes or pot, or anything else, puts you at a higher risk of developing a host of health issues and, some can lead you down the path to developing kidney disease and kidney failure.

keep the communications open & Truthful

Make sure if you have chronic kidney disease, are on dialysis, waiting for a transplant, or other types of treatments, speak with your doctor and let them know you smoke or consume marijuana products.

Fake weed - Definitely not okay

According to new research synthetic, Pot also, known as fake weed, has been linked to acute kidney injury, leaving many in the medical community concerned.

Synthetic marijuana has many names like K2, Spice, Fake Weed, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, Genie, Zohai, and Black Mamba. These products may harm the kidneys to the point that acute kidney injury may lead to renal failure.

Spice refers to a wide variety of herbal mixtures that produce experiences similar to marijuana (cannabis) and that are marketed as "safe," legal alternatives to that drug.

"Despite being legal and marketed as safe, it appears these products are far from it."

"Our work should help strengthen the case that these agents should be recognized by the medical community as a possible cause of reversible acute kidney injury, and that further testing should be made on the different effects that these substances produce on the body," he added.

Kerry Willis, Chief Scientific Officer of the National Kidney Foundation

Common side effects

Sold online and in stores as bath additives, incense and air fresheners, comprised of herbal plant material that has been sprayed with chemicals that mimic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Kids are often targeted with packaging and ease of availability.

Common side effects in patients abusing these agents include:

rapid heart rate
vomiting
agitation
seizures
hallucinations
blurred vision
anxiety

Status in Canada:
As of 2015 in Canada, Spice and specific forms are not specifically prohibited in Canada, but synthetic cannabis is listed as a schedule II drug. Health Canada is debating on the subject.

To learn more about drugs, and abuse click here.

Spice is most often labelled "not for human consumption" and disguised as incense.

Because the chemicals used in Spice have a high potential for abuse and no medical benefit, the Drug Enforcement Administration has made many of the active chemicals found in Spice illegal. However, the people who make these products try to avoid these laws by using different chemicals in their mixtures.

Spice is most often labelled "not for human consumption" and disguised as incense. Sellers of the drug try to lead people to believe it is “natural” and therefore harmless, but it is neither. In fact, the actual effects of spice can be unpredictable and, in some cases, severe or cause death.

How Spice is Used

Most people smoke Spice by rolling it in papers (like with marijuana or handmade tobacco cigarettes); sometimes, it is mixed with marijuana. Some people also make it as an herbal tea for drinking. Others buy Spice products as liquids to use in e-cigarettes.

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Status in Canada - Drug Spice

As of 2015 in Canada, Spice and specific forms are not specifically prohibited in Canada, but synthetic cannabis is listed as a schedule II drug. Health Canada is debating on the subject. To learn more click here.