What is Fentanyl-Laced Weed?
Fentanyl-laced weed is marijuana that has been mixed or ‘laced’ with fentanyl.
Fentanyl and marijuana are a potent and potentially deadly combination. This is especially true since many people who consume marijuana laced with fentanyl have never been exposed to fentanyl before, and so have not developed a tolerance to it. It is therefore imperative to know what fentanyl-laced weed is, and how to tell if weed is laced with fentanyl.
Avenues Recovery Center has compiled an in-depth article covering everything you should know about fentanyl-laced weed. Learn why people lace weed with fentanyl, how to know if weed is laced, and what laced weed looks like.
What Does "Laced" Mean?
Lacing is the practice of diluting illicit drugs with other substances to bulk up the weight and thereby increase profits. This practice often causes dangerous overdoses, when people unknowingly ingest powerful substances in potentially deadly combinations. Heroin, cocaine, and marijuana are commonly laced when bought from illegal sources.
The first alert regarding fentanyl-laced weed was spread in 2018, to warn marijuana users of what they may be ingesting.
Why Do People Lace Weed With Fentanyl?
People lace weed with fentanyl for two main reasons: to intensify and prolong the short-term pleasure felt after ingesting marijuana, and to increase their profit from marijuana when selling it by weight.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic (man-made) opioid used to relieve post-surgery pain, and to manage pain caused by chronic illnesses such as cancer. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and therefore lethal. Even two milligrams of illicit fentanyl, equivalent to two grains of sand, can cause an overdose and death. Fentanyl is currently a leading cause of overdose deaths in the US.
What Does Fentanyl Look Like?
Illegal fentanyl is usually made into three substances:
- Synthetic powder
- Ordinary-looking pills
- Eye droppers and nasal sprays
What Is Weed?
Marijuana (or ‘weed’, as it is known on the street), refers to the dried flowers from the Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica plant. There are over 500 chemicals present in marijuana, but the most prominent of those is THC (short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the psychoactive chemical in marijuana which causes an addictive ‘high’ feeling. Marijuana is often brewed in teas, eaten with foods, smoked, and even vaped.
A explained, THC is the chemical responsible for marijuana's psychotropic effects. This is because THC stimulates the brain to release the feel-good chemical dopamine, which affects a person’s coordination, emotions, thoughts, memory, and perception of time. THC's pleasurable effects make marijuana is addictive.
How Can You Tell If Weed Is Laced With Fentanyl?
The most accurate way to test for fentanyl in weed is by using a test strip.
Here’s how:
- Dissolve the weed in water.
- Place the test strip inside.
- The results will show whether or not the weed has fentanyl.
You can read our online resource to find out where to buy fentanyl test strips.
It’s important to know how to tell if weed is laced with fentanyl. Some other ways to spot fentanyl-laced weed include smelling it or examining it closely for the common signs of a laced joint.
What Does Laced Weed Smell Like?
Pure marijuana usually smells like grass or leaves, whereas pot laced with fentanyl may have a strong and distinct smell of gas, paint, or nail polish.
What Does Fentanyl-Laced Weed Look Like?
Cannabis laced with fentanyl is extremely difficult to identify by sight alone. Fentanyl is a potent opioid often appearing as a fine white powder, and only a few milligrams can be dangerous – an amount so small it may not be visible at all on a cannabis bud. In fact, experts and authorities note that there are no consistent visible signs to reliably confirm fentanyl contamination just by looking.
However, there are a few potential visual red flags and irregularities that, if noticed, could suggest tampering:
- Unusual white powdery residue on the buds (not natural trichomes)
- Bright white specks or chalky particles that flake off or collect in the bag
- Discoloration, such as bluish, grayish, or overly pale patches on the buds
- Crystals that look unnatural or are unevenly distributed
- Clumps or crusted areas on the buds that appear “coated” or hardened
- Unusual texture: overly dry, gritty, sticky (not resinous), or chemically damp
- Odorless or chemical smell, instead of the usual pungent cannabis aroma
- Loose granules or flakes that resemble crushed pills or dust in the bottom of the container
In summary, fentanyl-laced weed cannot be identified by sight with any certainty. While you can look for unusual white powdery residue, odd coloration, or weird textures on your marijuana, there is no consistent visual sign of fentanyl contamination.
In practice, most tainted cannabis will look normal. Use caution and never rely on visuals alone to determine the safety of your weed.
REMEMBER: When in doubt, don’t assume it’s safe — test it or avoid it.
What Does Fentanyl-Laced Weed Taste Like?
Unfortunately, there is no proven research on the fentanyl-laced weed taste, especially as the taste changes completely when it is mixed with different substances. The taste of laced weed is not distinguishable from pure weed.
It is difficult to know whether or not weed has been laced with other substances when it is purchased illicitly, as there are no legal guidelines. As cannabis is becoming more widely legalized for medicinal purposes, it will become more regulated and signs of weed being laced will become more apparent. It will be easier to know the quality of weed and if it has been laced with other drugs when purchased from a legitimate source.
Laced Weed Deaths
The problem with fentanyl-laced marijuana is that for people who have never been exposed, a lethal dose of fentanyl can be minuscule. Consumers usually don’t know when their weed is laced with fentanyl, causing catastrophic effects. Additionally, there is a higher risk of addiction to marijuana when it is laced with fentanyl, since the effects are potentially stronger and more pleasurable.
The first warning on the danger of fentanyl-laced weed came from Connecticut in 2021, when the Department of Public Health declared that fentanyl-laced weed caused 40 overdoses in the state in that year. Whereas this statement has yet to be confirmed, there has definitely been an uptick in illegally sold fentanyl-laced weed, causing a rise in overdose cases.
Signs of Fentanyl Overdose
Within 15 to 20 minutes after consuming weed, it is obvious whether or not it has been laced because the immediate side effects are different to those of pure weed.
Symptoms of a fentanyl overdose (and therefore the symptoms of laced weed) typically include:
- Slowed heartbeat
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Wet and clammy skin
- Severe drowsiness
Eventually, one’s heartbeat can slow to the point that that it stops altogether. If it appears as though someone has overdosed on fentanyl, it is vital to get them to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Preventing Overdose on Fentanyl-Laced Weed
It is important to educate yourself on the dangers of laced marijuana and remain vigilant when obtaining it, so that you can protect yourself from unknowingly consuming deadly fentanyl in weed.
Here are a few safety strategies to implement if you have concerns about overdose:
- Never use alone.
- Find a legal way to obtain marijuana. Marijuana is legal in some states and traveling to obtain it legally is a good way to ensure its safety.
- Replace cannabis use with a legal drug.
- Have Narcan available whenever using. It's a medication used to treat opioid overdose and can be life-saving.
Other Drugs Your Weed May Contain
Marijuana could be laced with a host of other substances to alter its psychoactive effects. Here are a few examples:
- PCP
- LSD
- Methamphetamines
- Ketamine
- Heroin
- Cocaine
How to Avoid Fentanyl-Laced Weed
Many people believe that marijuana is a low-risk drug since there aren’t many reported overdose cases from marijuana alone. Although it’s true that marijuana alone probably won’t kill you, it’s important to remember two things: firstly, marijuana is highly addictive and can cause many harmful long-term side effects. Secondly, marijuana can be laced with fentanyl (or other substances) without you knowing, and fentanyl-laced weed can cause catastrophic and unexpected results.
If you or a loved one is addicted to marijuana, reach out for help. Leading drug rehabilitation experts such as Avenues Recovery Center will help you detox safely and guide you on your journey toward a drug-free life.