Cal U students warned about bad pot
University officials said they discovered that marijuana smoked recently by some university students is apparently laced with jimson weed, also known as “thorn apple” or “stink weed,” and can result in deadly side effects. Officials said that reactions to the laced dope include hallucinations, dry mouth and overheating.
No sickened students suffered critical injuries from smoking the tampered reefer.
Angela Burrows, vice president for University Relations, said Friday that fewer than 10 students have come forward with symptoms from imbibing the marijuana.
Burrows said that the university has not determined the source of the hallucinogenic herb, but noted that police are continuing to investigate the origin of the bad weed.
“Right now the campus police are investigating,” Burrows said. “All we know is that it (jimson weed) is grown locally on farms.”
Burrows said that while the university obviously forbids the use of marijuana at the campus, school officials are still cautioning students to be especially careful with the dangerous ganja by sending out an email alert to all students.
“People should care, because it’s their own health they’re dealing with,” student Luke Hixon told Herald-Standard news partner WPXI Channel 11. “You don’t know what could happen with something like that.”
According to Joseph Augustine, prevention specialist for the Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission, jimson weed is a common plant found in most parts of the U.S. that has been used for centuries as a medicine and an intoxicant.
Augustine said that most jimson weed use is limited to thrill-seekers or one-time-only drug users hoping to experience hallucinations.
He noted that jimson weed is not considered addictive because the side effects from taking the drug are often severe and not considered pleasurable.
Burrows said that the health alert is just another reason students should not ingest marijuana.
She said students that might be suffering medical ailments associated with using the drug should come forward for medical treatment.