I look at this thread everyday and the only good thing that seems to be happening at the moment is the amount of people that are having the problem with this gritshit and the fact that if, like me, you are telling your dealers your not happy with this then it should have a knock on effect and hopefully the situation might improve.

Iv'e been smoking for 9 years and have never known anything like this before. Im sure its down to the fact that when the police did there hit on cannibis growers in August/September that effected the market and the growers have not got back on top. It's been 3 months now so the next grow should be round the corner. Maybe this will improve the situation in the next few weeks.

It's everywhere, I know people who never have a problem and like the lizardqueen said above, even people you have dealt with for years are getting this shit.

Lets hope Santa brings us some nice sticky bud, without the sand !!

This idea may seem a naive one but I think that a petition may be the only way to get anything done about this.


It is highly suspected (to be confirmed) that the substance being "cut" into herbal cannabis is silica.

It is believed it is added to the flowering plant in order to significantly increase the sale weight.

It is also believed that the market for this contaminated cannabis arose from the vacuum created by a successful police operation involving a series of raids on those growing cannabis here in the UK.

This has already been discussed by more astute members of this forum, but I would like to make it clear:

Silica, when inhaled, can lead to silicosis.
The silica in contact with lung tissue kills a small area around it.
More silicosis means more dead lung tissue.
Large dead areas of lung means tuberculosis (TB).
Tuberculosis often means death, even today.
And please don't forget that in the UK more people who die in hospital die of diseases they catch while in hospital than ANYTHING ELSE. Yes, more than 50 percent.

Many users have chosen to quit purely out of fear of the negative effects of this additive, and rightly so.

It seems others have chosen to grow their own in order to maintain a "clean" supply.

I must at this point warn that cultivation of cannabis is a separate offence, classed under drug trafficking laws, which potentially carry up to a 25-year prison sentence.


Since my earlier posts I have received calls from concerned citizens, nationwide, confirming the presence of this potentially harmful additive in their areas.

Yet I have received no acknowledgement of this problem from police, the Home Office or the Dept of Health.

Although, according to one NHS pressure group in the Midlands, the government and the Health Service should be treating this situation as a Public Health Risk and warning "at least parents" about the new presence of a potentially lethal substance to the streets and no doubt in their children’s' schools.

Now, I can understand when the Home office say that possession of cannabis, contaminated or not, is illegal and those who break the law put themselves at risk. In fact, for the same reason, I don’t believe that drink-drivers can complain that they are at risk of injury due to the high likelihood of them crashing their cars.

But when you consider that around 4 million British Citizens smoke the drug regularly, and that children are the most at risk due to their inexperience, it seems clear that the government has a responsibility to address the issue.
So far the government will not even admit their awareness of this issue. I say that those concerned citizens should petition the government, publicly making them aware of the problem and pleading for some sort of constructive action, even if only a public awareness campaign.

I would be more than happy to start the petition with my signature.

It is obviously not right to ask the government to clean up the illegal drugs they try to keep off the streets but with so many users in the UK it seems there has never been a more serious argument for legalisation.

And consider this: Have you ever had an irregular, defective or contaminated pack of cigarettes, crate of beer or box of paracetamol?

Finally, please do not buy or smoke this stuff.

For those who insist, I must advise that for now, anyone smoking ANY cannabis should favour a filter, a pipe, or any other method which is likely to prevent the silica reaching the lungs.

Using a filter does NOT stop you from getting stoned. It may save your life.

PS- Sorry for all the "s and preaching and I'm sure that many know the law better than I.

Derek, I will contact you regarding a final draft of this being put in a more prominent position on the site if possible. In the mean time, I would appreciate input or feedback from anyone, including yourself, on what might be added for the final draft. Some good figures would help and I have some quotes but let’s go to town.

Gareth Thomas

I rubbed the grit on me, and it came up with no rash, no irritation... hell that wasnt even a mark!

the contamination has spread to the emerald isle
no one is safe

the government and the Health Service should be treating this situation as a Public Health Risk , i spoke to my accupunturists (shes works for the NHS in the midlands)
i spoke to her in my last session, and she couldnt believe it. she cant believe that no-one will note this...and find the core problem.
if we went a different route, why not target doctors - people that smoke weed that are expreiences breathing problems at this present time must be being misdiagonosed as chest infections or flu and being prescribed antibiotics-if this is the substance then if caught early it can be treated. once its in the lung you fu****d

we need to come up with a plan, because no one else is listening.
x

Maybe some of the above warnings and pics could be put together as a poster that we can distribute as a pdf so people can print it and ask their local head shops etc to display. Anyone?

If someone can design one, I will post out to shops via the LCA
[www.lca-uk.org]

Also anyone fancy phnong Weed World or mailing and asking them to print a warning in NEXT issue. editor@weedworld.co.uk 01974 821518

Refer them to this thread and the pictures please

Norfolk police drugs liaison officer has been told; this morning i left a message on the Avon constabulary web site.

I have written to about a dozen papers now including Norwich Evening News, Hull Daily Mail, York Press, Bristol Post, The Guardian, The Scotsman, Dorset Echo, Liverpool Echo, Machester Evening News, London Metro and Evening Standard

Also everyoen visit other cannabis forums and spread word

Alun

Just spoke to Weedworld. Next edition is February. I've pointed them at this thread and included a couple of the pictures.

Gareth, one for you I think - they need an article writing!

Derek

Webteam UKCIA

Perfect. You collate a folder of jpegs for em and I'll get the last edition to see how they like this stuff written.

The fact that so many people are eager to deal with this problem assures me that it is very serious.

Weedworld is great, but february is a long, sandy, way off yet. I am still pursuing editors of the nationals in-a-view to them taking their responsibility as members of our press seriously and helping with awareness.

Most importantly, though, through this forum I and many others became aware of the scale of this problem. It seems UKCIA may be the perfect medium for an awareness campaign.
So people, please get links to this thread anywhere and everywhere you can.

I received a reply from Avon constabularly saying they'd "passed the message on", whatever that menas, and did we know what this contamination was because people on line were saying all sorts of things

add another one to the list , altho i had it in the north east area a week or so back , at first glance it looked fine , coverd in dust.
i didnt get any high from it, the dust to touch had an oily feel to it , and when chewed , felt like grit/sand . its destroyed my grinder, but was also fine enough to fall thru the mesh into the catcher at the bottom.
if i could grab some more to send to someone for testing, to get to the bottom of this i would, but the stuff doesnt seem tobe about, and im not supprised considering the scalding many of us gave our pharma .

hope we all find out what the hell this stuff is , i found the oily texture of it weird.

Quote:

onthecase
...the government and the Health Service should be treating this situation as a Public Health Risk and warning "at least parents" about the new presence of a potentially lethal substance to the streets and no doubt in their children’s' schools...
Gareth Thomas

I agree. How many times have you heard as part of a report on heroin overdoses

"...police are warning of a particularly pure form of heroin"

e.g.

"A 24- year-old man died after taking what police described as a dangerously pure form of heroin which is circulating in the city." BBC website 11.04.1999

"Nine people were admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital last Friday after overdosing on heroin... Thames Valley Police described the batch as “extremely strong” and claimed it “could be lethal”. A spokesperson said, “We really need to know where this batch has come from." from [www.cherwell.org] Friday 6 February 2004

etc...

If police can issue warnings to heroin users because the drug of choice they are ingesting is dangerous why can they not warn cannabis smokers (on a national scale) that the cannabis they are smoking is dangerous too?

It is ironic that in the case of heroin deaths in these situations the deaths are caused by a drug that is too pure while the extent of concern surrounding the "grit weed" phenomenon is due to the imputity of the adulterated cannabis buds.

The nation's cannabis smokers should be warned of the dangers of smoking "grit weed" immediately. It is irresponsible of the government not to issue such a warning. In 10 years (or perhaps less if the contaminant is proved to be silica) this is going to come back and haunt a lot of people who have been in effect poisoned by what they are currently smoking or have smoked.

I also agree with Gareth's point about a national petition and will gladly sign this if it is organised correctly, presented to the correct government department (10 Downing Street?) and publicised to the extent it deserves.

Time for action.

this sounds rather worrying. my normal sources round here (not far from glasgow) are drying up. im worried we're going to get this nasty sand weed.

anyone heard about it going round glasgow, should i be worried?

cheers.

Quote:

Derek

Quote:

mushrooman
I'm smoking it anyway as genuine clean locally grown produce is hard to come by. How many years am I knocking off my life !

Why not ask the drugs unit in the Home Office?

After all, they created this situation, so they should know the extent of the risk they've created, shouldn't they? Of course, they don't know...

Home Office
Direct Communications Unit (CCS)
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF

Tel: 020 7035 4848
Fax: 020 7035 4745
Minicom: 020 7035 4742
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

The more that write, the better.

Derek

Ive just emailed them the following letter:

Hello,

Since August, there has been a huge rise in contaminated Cannabis on the black market. It looks like sand, glass or fine grit has been added to Herbal Cannabis and it has been reported all over the country. I have read disturbing reports online about collapsed lungs and even one death from this unpleasant additive. I'm sure you will agree that this is more harmful than Cannabis itself could ever be.

I would like to know what research has been conducted into this recent contamination? What exactly is this substance contaminating Cannabis? How harmful is it?

I would also like to know why, despite this, the government are continuing to target cannabis growers?

This will not only worsen the situation but it sends out a very confused message about your policy on drugs. This time last year we are told that Police are turning a 'blind eye' to Cannabis in order to focus on other more harmful drugs such as Heroin or Cocaine. Now we hear reports of the Government's new War on Cannabis together with the more widespread use (especially amongst young people) of harder, class A drugs.

The end result of the war on cannabis has only been to allow contamination to take place and to force some users into harder drugs. There is just as much Cannabis on the streets as there has always been, despite government efforts. Only now, it is this new contaminated form that is the most common.

The recent raids, arrests and resultant cannabis shortage instigated by the government are almost entirely responsible for this potentially deadly contamination. I would like to know what responsibility the government intends to take for this?

How and when do you plan to inform the public of this danger?

Thank you for your time, I look forward to your reply.

--------------------------------------------------------------

I will post the reply if and when I recieve one

"The basis of textile grade glass fibers is silica, SiO2. In its pure form it exists as a polymer, (SiO2)n. It has no true melting point but softens up to 2000°C, where it starts to degrade"

A joint burns at less than half of the temp of fiberglass.
Im not suggesting that anyone is safe, but imless you use a blow tourch to spark your reefer...

Hi, new to this website as i have registered just to post in this thread.

Im from the midlands area and have just got some of this grit weed. Its the first time ive seen it and looks very moody indeed! I usually buy in largish amounts (i.e 1/2 bars) from a regular supplier who for the last year or so Ive used him has been supplying high quality. I tend to buy a large amount, giving myself a 2 month or so supply, so I had not bought any for 6 weeks or so until yesterday. It looked good at first inspection but burns very badly and seems to have a sweat taste to it. It seems to have a very distinctive smell, that strangely I have smelt before. I bought some dodgy soapbar about 3yrs ago that smelt the same when burned and didnt seem to get me high at all. It gave me a bad cough for a few days and a bad headache, but only on the side of my head (I think someone mentioned the same thing in an earlier post). I am trying to contact my guy to see if he will take it back as I dont intend to smoke it (due to my previous experience with the soapbar) but I intend to keep a small sample.

As no-one as yet knows excactly what this additive is I intend to take the plunge and speak to my dad. He is an industrial chemist, so hopefully I can find out whats in it (if its the same as everyone else's?) even though I will get a severe roasting. It might be useful if people want to get in touch to let me know what they have found. From the little chemistry I have picked up I think the taste is very important here . My weed tastes very sugary.....

I hope to be back tommorow with some results...

Hi,

I wont go into too much detail, and i suspect some people will have variations, but in my "gritweed" I have found -

1) Glucose - hence the sweet taste (maybe used as the glue?)

2) silica sand - for weight at a guess

3) fiberglass particles - i think for looks?

4) forchlorfenuron - growth stimulator

5) lead arsenate - doesnt sound good, and it isnt!

6) And most worrying - Hardly any THC.....

I dont know whether its industrial grade hemp, legal bud (never smoked it - whats the point) or what. I think it might be variations in different locations i.e. someone organised started it and people are copying, which might explain just sand and glue in some and glucose in others. Even when washed and dried (it will burn better) It just does not smell right, and if it dont smell like weed it aint weed.

Maybe its time to grow a crop?

hi, just registered to add my concern about this shit gritdraw going around.
In Orpington/Bromley it seems to be about the only skunk you can get.

For the last 3 months I have been seeing this crap around.
I came home from Amsterdam in September to find absolutely fuck all 'skunk' in town.
The last stuff I picked up was a mixed bag of dead, brown buds and very few sugary buds which werent overly strong.

Id love to grow my own draw but live with my parents who, funnily enough(?!), dont like the idea much.
But...yea, many of you wanted to know all areas affected so....as above.

Hi, Im getting extremely concerned about this stuff its all we have been able to get in Yarmouth for the last 2 months now. Is anyone else suspicious that this crap appears all over the UK at the same time, and just after those country wide raids?

I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist but I think it could be the government putting this sand weed out. What criminal gang would put their reputation on the line with this stuff?

I predict that potentially this sand weed will be responsible for the reclassification of cannabis back to B, or perhaps even A!! Theres been a lot of talk in the media about super strength skunk, and Ive even heard people say that it should be put in its own class, above other types of cannabis.

This would be the perfect excuse for the powers that be to demonize cannabis even further and potentially even scare a lot of people in to not smoking it anymore.

As for what this stuff could be, its got to be some sort of tiny particles, my worst fear would be that its Asbestos. But anything non-natural is very worrying to say the least.

Does anyone know if the LCA or any similar group is planning to get tests done on this stuff? Im sure there are commercial companies out there that would do some tests for the right price (perhaps we can all chip in towards the cost?) or what about a university or some medical laboratory?

This contamination needs to be examined urgently and some flyers need to be put together so we can get them up. This is potentially a serious health risk that is being ignored by the mainstream. I think its going to have to be up to groups like the LCA to help us on this one, the government is clearly not interested in our health.

Peace, Xterity



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2006 11:44PM by Xterity.

finally someone that can help....and has!
dumboy....your not so dum after all lol.....infact about 20times more intelligent than all the dumb fucks in this town, that are living in denial.

really i want to say thankyou because you have now revealled what this crap can have in it....i have a sample too for you, i would absolutely love it if you could send me ur email addy? or msn?
would it be possible if you could send me more info of what you have found.i agree there are many types of this shite going around....so its important to test anything

i knew it.....this crap is dangerous...i refuse also to smoke this but unfortunately my friends will not open there eyes...thinking its all rumours and bollox and we are just being paraniod. Now i can throw all this evidence at them.

also i noticed the smell as well.....like pouring boiling water into a plastic cup.
it does smell sweaty...and has a weird smell when burned!o and it was me that posted abut having a headache on the side of my head. mmmmmm and your from the midlands, me too.

o and ur dad should be proud of you for standing up.....u may not think this but you have really helped this situation with your smart actions!! nice one mate

Hey,

thanks for the post lizardqueen, the smell is exactly the same in mine. And if you chew it, you get a nasty sweet taste? this is not even cannabis, in half a bar I found NO seeds at all! The most worrying is the reports of people in hospital. I cant find any info but I can believe it. The problem is that because of the expense, people are prepared to smoke it once they have paid for it. To me this is madness, but you are usually buying from people you are friends with, who buy it from someone else etc etc. I also think that all those experiments with placebo's could explain a lot of things here. I dont want to piss people off but if your smoking this "gritweed" take a few moments to question if you are high. The the only real thing I got from one small joint was a sore throat and the bad smell.

On a higher note,

I have spent all afternoon on the phone - "gritweed" everywhere? Not quite. I have managed to get hold of some very sticky bud and some resin (drought insurance) from a dealer that is refusing to buy the sand. thank F**k! He said that people started bringing it back, so he took his back (it does work) He has bud and strong hash (no soapy taste!) in from Holland last week. The dutch may have sensed a business oppurtunity with all the shit weed problems?

The bud is as good as any homegrown I have smoked and the resin smells like bud.I have found no plastic so far and it feels very clean on the lungs. But most importantly is VERY strong. I do not kid when I say that I have not been this stoned for 10 years! Take back the bad stuff and hang on for the good stuff, they cant sell it if we dont buy it....

Oh soapbar, comes from F***ing Holland, they make it out of oil and tyres and pollen.....