There’s no denying just how dangerous fentanyl is, and this potent opioid is causing more fatal overdoses than ever before. Quite often, the people who die from too much fentanyl didn’t even realize they were taking the drug—it was in some other substance that they intended to take instead, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, a counterfeit prescription pill, or even fentanyl-laced weed.
It’s understandable why this potential hidden threat has earned so much attention in America in recent years, and why people are starting to realize that illegal drugs can be laced with ingredients that they never intended to take. Fentanyl is relatively cheap and easy to make, which is why illicit drug dealers will sometimes add it to other substances to boost highs and cut their costs. Still, the real danger of fentanyl has led to growing amounts of misinformation, including the myth of weed laced with fentanyl hitting the streets.
The reality is that there is no evidence of actual verified reports of marijuana being contaminated with fentanyl, and even if there were, the way that marijuana is used would all but eliminate any threat of an accidental opioid overdose in this manner. Still, the myth is a good opportunity to think about the realities of the situation, especially just how dangerous fentanyl is and how easy it is to hide in other substances.
Let’s explore the stories of weed laced with fentanyl and explore the real-life threats that are much more likely to cause problems for people who use illegal drugs. Understanding the symptoms of a fentanyl overdose or where it’s likely to be will be much more helpful than repeating unverified myths.
24/7 support availability,
start your recovery today!
Can Weed Really Be Laced With Fentanyl?
Let’s dive into the heart of this myth and answer the big question: Can weed really be laced with fentanyl? It’s theoretically possible if the marijuana is purchased illegally, meaning it’s not subject to strict testing or standards that would be in place if bought legally through a state’s medical or recreational marijuana program. A tiny amount of fentanyl powder is all it takes to cause a high or even lead to a fatal overdose, meaning it’s easy to hide in substances without the user ever knowing.
Still, the reality is that it isn’t happening like this, and fentanyl-laced weed appears to be little more than a myth. The New York Office of Cannabis Management sought to put this misinformation to rest, releasing a report in October 2023 about the rumors of this supposed contamination hitting the streets.
According to the office, despite widespread misinformation about the supposed dangers of fentanyl-laced weed, anecdotal reports of this happening have continued to be found false. As of late 2023, no incidents of this happening have ever been verified. It could be thought of as similar to the urban legend of drug-tainted candy being given to kids as Halloween treats—the idea is scary, but it doesn’t actually happen.
Why Would Someone Lace Weed With Fentanyl?
There is no evidence that fentanyl-laced weed is really on the streets today. Still, it’s understandable why this urban legend would be so scary—fentanyl has more than earned its reputation as a terrifyingly deadly drug. This opioid is said to be 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, and just the amount that would fit on the tip of a pencil is a potentially lethal dose.
It’s precisely because of its extreme potency that it has become a growing threat in contaminated drugs that are sold as something else but really contain fentanyl. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, laboratory testing found that out of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills it analyzed in 2022, 6 in 10 contained a potentially deadly dose of the drug.
So, why would someone lace other drugs with fentanyl? The short answer is it’s extremely powerful, cheap, and relatively easy to make illegally. Drug dealers might decide to add a small amount of fentanyl to more expensive drugs, such as methamphetamine or cocaine, as a way of cutting costs while boosting the high for users and making it even more addictive.
Taking this shortcut is one of the reasons why so many people are now overdosing on fentanyl accidentally, claiming thousands of lives each year. Because fentanyl is so powerful and addictive, people who are addicted to it will likely need to undergo medical detox for fentanyl before starting a comprehensive addiction treatment program.
What Are the Dangers of Smoking Fentanyl-Laced Weed?
One reason why the myth of weed laced with fentanyl has taken off is because of the scary images it conjures. Imagine someone thinking they’re going to smoke one puff of pot, only to overdose on fentanyl that they didn’t even realize they were smoking. However, the reality isn’t like this.
According to the Partnership to End Addiction, some of the myths’ origins owe to widely publicized media reports in late 2021 of supposed overdoses of marijuana laced with fentanyl in Massachusetts. That story was ultimately determined to be false.
Around the same time, the Connecticut Department of Public Health issued a health alert that reported 39 overdoses of fentanyl-laced marijuana reversed using naloxone. At the time, these people said they had never used opioids, and that turned out to be untrue. In reality, 30 of the 39 victims had a history of using opioids.
Eventually, tests confirmed there was just one single case of marijuana mixed with fentanyl. However, even that case wasn’t quite what it seemed, and investigators eventually theorized that the person who packaged that contaminated weed had done so on the same table where they previously packaged fentanyl, meaning it was a mistake, not a deliberate act.
Even if fentanyl-laced weed was a thing, the Partnership to End Addiction cited research that suggests the way marijuana is used would likely not activate fentanyl. If the drug was inside a pipe filled with marijuana or in a joint, the cannabis would be burned and the smoke inhaled, but fentanyl would likely be destroyed at the temperature at which cannabis is smoked.
Even vaporizer pens on the market today don’t reach the high temperature that would be required to vaporize fentanyl. This means that fentanyl sprinkled on or in marijuana would likely be wasted and not be activated correctly to cause a high or an overdose.
How Can You Tell If Your Weed Has Been Laced With Fentanyl?
One of the scary things about fentanyl is that just a tiny amount of powder is all it takes to potentially cause a fatal overdose, and you can’t tell if a drug is contaminated with fentanyl just by looking at it, tasting it, or smelling it.
However, fentanyl test strips that can detect this contamination in other substances won’t work for testing marijuana because they’re designed to test water-soluble substances, not the flower of marijuana. Even if fentanyl-laced weed was a real threat, today’s test strips couldn’t be used to determine the contamination.
Get Help Recovering From Addiction at Muse Treatment
Myths and misinformation led to the rise of stories about supposed fentanyl-laced weed, and ultimately, these stories are false. The reality of the situation is just as scary—fentanyl is commonly found in other drugs, such as meth and cocaine, and its presence is usually unknown to the user.
More than ever, people who use illegal drugs are at risk of getting a dose of fentanyl that could quickly kill them. That’s why it’s so crucial for people who are struggling with addiction to turn to professionals for help so they can live a safer life and avoid the dangers of fentanyl.
At Muse Treatment’s Los Angeles drug rehab center, our team of experts knows how to help people deal with the realities of the situation and the threat from fentanyl. Learn how we can help you or your loved one get on the road to recovery by calling us at 800-426-1818 today.
External Sources
- New York Office of Cannabis Management – Cannabis and Fentanyl: Facts and Unknowns
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration – DEA Laboratory Testing Reveals That 6 out of 10 Fentanyl-Laced Fake Prescription Pills Now Contain a Potentially Lethal Dose of Fentanyl
- Partnership to End Addiction – Clearing the Haze: Marijuana and Fentanyl
