Cannabis is when compared to other types of narcotic, generally less harmful.

Aside from the “high” physically, weed isn’t all that bad for you. In fact, it’s celebrated for its medicinal properties.

This isn’t to say it’s not without risks, particularly if the weed you’re smoking has been laced.

Even with the most trustworthy dealer, there's a small chance that the cannabis they're selling could be laced with something else less savory.

Why Would Someone Lace Weed?

Cannabis is sold by weight usually, and adding cutting agents can make the buds heavier. Some dealers may have really bad quality cannabis and will try and get around this by adding synthetics like Spice, K2, and other herbal incense or other substances to improve the look of chemically altering the high.

In a black market, there is no accountability, and cannabis is the most common narcotic sold on the black market. If you live somewhere where cannabis is decriminalised, then buy it legally. Or, if you really want to be safe – grow your own!

What Causes unsafe Weed?

Despite more and more legalisation worldwide, most growers don’t have accurate testing facilities, proper ways to harvest, dry, and cure, as well as inadequate storage. You can only really know specific issues through chemical analysis, but there are a few things to look out for:

The taste: If you’ve had a toke, you know what it should taste like – sweet, smoky, sometimes fruity other times sour. A pure hit may make you cough, but it won’t hurt. Laced cannabis will have a metallic or chemical taste to it. If your drag tastes like an Ibuprofen tablet, there’s something very wrong with it.

The texture: Pure weed has trichomes, which are crystals, usually white, that turn brown or yellow when rubbed. If your weed looks extra sparkly, rub it with your fingers. It should be sticky. If it’s not, if it’s more powder than sticky, the dealer may have crushed something on the buds to improve their appearance. Avoid!

The smoke: Does it burn properly? Sometimes cannabis hasn’t been cured long enough, and thus trying to light it is like trying to burn wet grass – difficult. Wet weed isn’t a problem other than an annoying smoke, but it may be laced if it seems dry but still won’t burn.

The feeling: Feeling giggly, hungry, or light-headed is usual. But often, with laced cannabis, the feeling may be far more intense. Are you losing control of your thoughts? Talking too much? Unable to sit still? Yeah? Throw it away. Drink some water and eat something sooner rather than later.

The smell: Solvent-laced cannabis will make your bud smell weird. Rather than a herby smell, laced weed has a chemical almost sanitised smell even when dried and cured. When lit, if you’re getting whiffs of copper or plastic, then it may have been laced. Weed that’s been laced with stronger substances like burning plastic may be laced with PCP. If you can smell a foul, rancid smell, it may be cocaine. Generally, though, don’t smoke weed that stinks. Marijuana with a musky smell may have mold spores, which are very bad for your lungs.

How do I Smoke Weed Safely?

You can’t overdose on pure cannabis, but that doesn’t mean it can’t harm you. You can, however, feel incredibly ill or suffer severe consequences if you don’t know how your weed was grown or what it’s been mixed with.

EZ Test currently sells two kits for cannabis:

Bunk Weed Test

This EZ Test for Bunk Weed has been produced following reports in late 2020 of contamination of weed and hashish samples internationally. Samples of both were analysed and found to contain the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-4en-PINACA.

The EZ Test for Bunkweed contains 1 ampoule, which is opened before adding a small weed sample. Results will be evident within 5 minutes with a pink/lavender discolouration indicating that the weed is contaminated with synthetic cannabinoids such as MDMB-4en-PINACA. Genuine herbal cannabis does not react to this test.

Synthetic Cannabinoid Test

The Synthetic Cannabinoids Drug Testing Kit is a recent addition to the EZ Test range, which tests for various synthetic cannabinoids, such as Spice, K2, and other herbal incense (JWH-250, JWH-200, CP-55/940, JWH-018/073/081, CP-47/497, AM-694). The colour change will correspond to the information sheet, and a colour chart is included.

All EZ tests use a chemical reagent absorbed in silica gel, which is held inside a glass ampoule.

When a sample is added to these chemicals inside the ampoule, if a reaction occurs, a colour change will take place. This color should be compared to the color chart included in the instructions within the package to indicate what could be in the sample.