Although Annika, a cannabis patient from Germany, finds it difficult to talk about this experience, she wants to share her story to raise awareness and warn other patients. She is still stunned that she was sold this substance as cannabis. The symptoms of this synthetic drug were severe and very frightening. Only at home, through a self-test, did she discover the "fake cannabis." She worries that others might have similar experiences and that people might even die as a result.
Hospital stay of several days
A few weeks ago, Annika's husband had to call an ambulance. She had suddenly lost all control over her body. Her muscles cramped from head to toe, leaving her almost unable to speak and able to communicate only with her eyes. She was suffering from dystonia, accompanied by tremors, sensory disturbances, and numbness in her limbs.
The doctors found no cause for the seizures, which occurred several times during her hospital stay. As a medical cannabis patient, she naturally continued to take her supposed medicine in the hospital without realizing that the "wrong" cannabis was the root of all her problems. After each use, the symptoms worsened, and Annika's condition deteriorated. The seizures pressed on her airways, and severe difficulty swallowing made eating almost impossible. The muscle spasms on her right side, which persisted for extended periods, also made it nearly impossible for her to hold cutlery or bring anything to her mouth. The doctors were baffled. Several tests came back negative. No one suspected her cannabis flowers.
She was sent home feeling helpless
After seven days, Annika was discharged without a diagnosis. The doctors suspected a psychosomatic cause, as is often the case when they can't find anything else. But for Annika and her husband, it was clear that something had to be causing these symptoms. So they continued to ponder the problem and search for its source. At home, Annika consumed only the prescribed cannabis from the pharmacy for three days and felt dramatically better. This suddenly made her realize that the "Lemon Haze" she had acquired illegally from her supposed trusted dealer, which she had also used and taken in the hospital, must have something to do with her symptoms.
In what she calls a somewhat reckless self-experiment, she got out her vaporizer and tentatively took three small puffs of the dangerous marijuana. The self-test confirmed her suspicions. Not even 20 minutes after consuming it, Annika felt a strong, unpleasant tingling and pins-and-needles sensation on the left side of her body. And on the right, that familiar dystonia spread, with her muscles cramping up again. So much for psychosomatic. Now that she knew what was causing these symptoms, it was bearable.
The dealer knew nothing
Annika immediately confronted her dealer. He was completely perplexed and surprised himself. He'd also been sold it to him as THC cannabis flowers. Visually, there was no difference. He used it himself and also had strange experiences. Since consuming the supposed "Lemon Haze," he'd been experiencing psychotic symptoms he couldn't explain. When Annika received a report from other users that dangerous stuff was circulating, everything became clear to her.
MEDCAN is very concerned
The situation on the black market has worsened considerably due to the coronavirus crisis. Supply has dried up. Demand in Switzerland remains high, as always. There are whispers of enormous quantities of legally produced CBD flowers being sold abroad, which are now increasingly reappearing, often in adulterated form, on the European black market. Some Swiss producers seem indifferent to how their flowers are subsequently processed. Others may be unaware or prefer to remain ignorant. This development is deeply concerning and extremely dangerous for all consumers. Such synthetic drugs have already claimed lives worldwide.
Sick people are especially at risk
For cannabis patients, the presence of this "fake cannabis" on the black market is now extremely dangerous, as Annika's story illustrates. Those affected often consume large quantities to alleviate their pain. With these counterfeit flowers, it's impossible to predict the dosage of the injected active ingredient and its effects on the user, especially with regular or even daily consumption. The constant stress of obtaining the necessary medication is already incredibly burdensome for everyone affected. Now, having to take the risk of buying a synthetic drug instead of cannabis is a life-threatening imposition for these patients. Politicians must act quickly. However, the Federal Office of Public Health estimates that it will take another two years for the new medical cannabis law to be implemented.
