It's a European thing by the sounds of everything I've heard!

First off, cheers Derek for being so proactive and providing us with a forum like this where we can discuss matters that the government clearly will not help with. Can we confirm that there is a new form of contaminant which is impossible to detect with the standard grit in teeth test? If so, that is really scary stuff. I recently got some more of the stuff with the sugary taste, very mild in terms of sugar contamination compared to the last time i picked up and got this shit. I've not noticed any grittiness at ALL on this, nor any particles dropping out that scratch my tables etc.

With the symptoms i.e persistent coughs, tight chest, ulcers etc, chest tightness and slightly sore throat can be a result of a heavy smoking session even with clean bud, so how can we tell when it's caused by bad bud? I have never smoked noticeably glass contaminated weed, always do the teeth test and have smoked a bit of the sugar stuff, but I'm shitting myself because now we hear of new forms of contamination that these tests fail to identify.

Surely there's some judicial recourse here, the government policies are creating a risk that any sane and logical person can see, countless studies support this. Now with concrete evidence of potentially fatal contamination and the proof of the absolutely shameful way the government has ignored this, is there any possibility that this can be taken to the high courts to get a verdict that prohibition in this scenario is unlawful by the very fact that it increases risk?

Hi Smokingbudda

Well, sad to say we can't really confirm anything, we canonly go on what people are telling us which seems to be that the commercial supplly of cannabis is heavily contaminated with all sorts of stuff.

Yes, this is due to the actions of the government, indeed it's their stated aim to disrupt the supply and contamination is used as a measure of "success". Their attitude is simply that cananbis is illegal, so you shouldn't use it, which is, I agree, bloody stupid.

Prohibition is the only law I know which actually sets out to maximise harm. All I can suggest really is you do as much to draw attention to this as possible - write to local papers and so on.

The only way to be sure of getting good quality cannabis these days is to grow it yourself or to know someone who does.

Derek

Webteam UKCIA

Hi,

Sorry if this has already been mentioned here, I am still way behind catching up with all the messages, but just in case not the Department of Health have released another warning re contaminated cannabis.

Reproduced below:
---
To: Directors of Public Health of PCTs to forward to:

All GENERAL PRACTITIONERS - please ensure this message is seen by all practice nurses and non-principals working in your practice
- Deputising services
- Project manager/Nurse lead in Walk in Centres
- Lead nurses in PCTs
- PCT Pharmaceutical Advisers to forward to community pharmacists
Update on seizures of cannabis contaminated with glass particles

1. This is an update to a previous alert, issued on January 16 this year regarding potential health harms associated with the use of cannabis that had been contaminated with glass particles

2. Since then we have been investigating this matter further, in consultation with colleagues in the Forensic Science Service and this communication is to update you on our latest advice based on emerging information.

3. Whilst there is some evidence of a fall in the levels of glass contamination of cannabis in 2007, there is also a possibility that it has become less easy for users to detect it.

4. Information received from the Forensic Science Service in April 2007, which includes analysis of seizures of cannabis, provides the following updated information:

a. contaminated cannabis has been in circulation since at least July 2006 and in significant numbers since at least November 2006;

b. contaminated cannabis is found in approximately 5-10% of herbal cannabis seizure cases examined;

c. the proportions in seized cannabis in February (4.6%) and March (5.9%) are lower than that in January (9.6%), which may indicate that the market is changing in response to the media and concerns of users;

d. glass-contaminated cannabis has now been found in most parts of the UK – but not in Wales, and with no recent seizures in Northern Ireland;

e. evidence to date supports the view that the contaminated cannabis is being imported, probably from the Netherlands;

f. the reason for adding the glass particles remains uncertain, but it still seems likely that they are added to improve the apparent quality and weight;

g. internet cannabis forums are now reporting the appearance of cannabis contaminated with much finer particles that are not easily detected as a gritty feeling; and

h. if growers are using much smaller particles of glass beads, this could, theoretically, increase the health risk of smoking contaminated cannabis.

5. Please note that the main alert and information for patients provided in January 2007, advising to stop or reduce use, and to avoid any further use of samples where there is suspicion of actual contamination, still stands. The wording of each has been updated to reflect the information that there are internet reports of samples with finer glass that may not be identifiable by a feeling of grittiness.

6. DH will continue to monitor the available information and will provide updated information when appropriate.

This document has been authorised by the Department of Health: Gateway reference no: 8250

----------------------------------------
Adam Medcalf
[www.ukcia.org]
UK Cannabis Internet Activists
----------------------------------------

I love how they release a new warning that is basically what we already know from these forums. Miles behind as always. What really gets me is that I was hoping for better information as to the effects and the risks associated with this. Nothing. Cheers o government. But thanks for the update Adam at the very least it gives some idea of a decrease. Of course the rest of the warning looks like it could have been a summary of the forum here!

Hi Guys
I keep hearing that bud is now mostly clean, well I know for fact dutch import weed is now being covered in talc powder, and forms of flour you can tell this if u buy in big enough quantities (an Oz or so) because you'll have a green powder form in the bottom of the bag. OK I doubt its any worse than smoking tobacco but i have heard of building dust being used aswell such as plasterbord powder very fine sawdust e.t.c and all pass the crunch test.

i bought a benzinos (£10) in camdem and it looked like nice bud at first, was quite strong, but after smokin it the bag it came in had little square crystals in the corners, and i did try eating some of it to see if it was gritty and it was barely gritty at all, maybe 1 little crunch in my mouth per bit i ate, i smoked it in a bong, the water musta filtered it cos i never got any chest or throat problems

thanks for bringing the contamination to our attention.
there's that 'dutch bit' that is supposedly clean but I know it is a double wammy of sugar with a softer sand sprayed on.

who is the culprit behind this. If i were looking to make more profit selling drugs, It would make more sense to just sell crack or some more luicrative drugs than fuck up someones ganja for more cash.

I think if it doesn't go away,there will be a generation of young people growing up thinking this shite is real ganj.
if a kid died today smoking this shite then the goernment would just use it to demonise ganja even more.

the culprit(s) are all kinds of people, 1 person does it, word catches on and then everybody starts doing it, why is a grower gonna sit back and watch other growers adding an extra 30% to their earnings and not do the same?

after doing some serious research to this nasty gritty sand this i what i discovered: Silica sand contamanation
acording to the glassblower for the Department of Chemistry, it's just melted and reformed into the appropriate shape -- it's not really doing anything to the sand other than burning off any organic contamination in the sand (the melting point is about 3110F) fags burn at 752 deg F at the side and 1112 deg F in the middle this is a 360 F diffrence in temp within a few millimeters diffrence. with joints being big fat bud packe mofos (if u can handle the pace or not) surly its not to an over the top to say that it is posibe for the center of a joint to reach 3110F. Silica sand is typically 99.0-99.9% SiO2 (depending on the source and grade), which is about the exact same chemical composition as glass. NOT GOOD AT ALL!
what problems can this have on our health silicosis is a respiratory disease resulting from the inhalation of crystalline silica.It can occur quickly in cases of massive infusion of freshly crushed silica e.g immideatly after grinding), during which crystalline silica is trapped in the lungs, because the crystalline particles repeatedly injure the lining of the lung wall, and we mount an immune response (technically a nodular fibrosing pneumoconiosis, if anyone cares ). There is more to the disease than simple cutting, however. When crystalline silica is deposited in the lung, SiOH groups on the surface of the particle eventually form chemical bonds to membrane proteins and phospholipids, and these chemical reactions with the lung lining lead to denaturation of the membrane proteins and phosopholipids. During crushing of crystalline silica, surface free radicals are formed (half life is about 30 hours), and this makes the effects *much* worse in freshly ground silica than aged silica. That is why people who do sandblasting, mining or other rock work with quartz are at risk.Furthermore the surface is completely coated by a bio-organic film (primarily bacteria and their by-products)
Result BAD SHIT

IF YOU SMOKE WEED AND CARE ABOUT THE WEED SMOKING WORLD SHOW THIS TO THE WHOLE CULTURE MABY OUR DEALERS WILL WISE UP STOP BUYING SHIT DEMANDING BUD QUALITY TO RETURN TO MODERATLY OK (would be nice if it were great bud but nevermind) DO NOT BUY THIS BUD DO NOT FUND THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR CULTURE, LETS TEACH THOSE FORIGN CUNTS A LESSON AND LEAVE THEM WITH POUNDS AND POUNDS OF UNSMOKABLE AND UNSELLABLE SHIT!!

BUT SMOKE WEED

That last post really scared me. I smoked a Q of this crap a while ago. I really hope it hasn't done any long term damage. I am trying to be so careful these days its pranging me out. For all the weed smokers out there, that real nice bud is about you just gotta find it, good luck!

NEW DEVELOPEMENT - Stealth Grit-Weed Mark III
Just spent 300 eu's on sh*t. The first 100 was "classic" grit-weed through a good friend whom I thought would know better, (under 3g for 50eu!...) the other 200 to another "friend of a good friend" which turned out to be an as yet unmentioned (as far as i can see/search) type of CONTAMINATED WEED that passes the grit test, is NOT sugary, but when placed on the tip of the tongue/ground a bit with the front teeth IS slightly salty to taste, and get this; IT CAUSES A BURNING SENSATION ON THE TONGUE. This stuff looks like high quality bud, absolutely covered with "crystals", but on close inspection there is a creamy yellow substance (looks kinda like the stuff on yoghurt bars; can be thick in places but may not even be noticable...) suffusing the bud. Tiny non-organic looking sparkles can also be seen. I broke up a 50 bag and tried to "wash" it in warm water; The yellowish stuff (which generally looks like a good coating of trichomes), would not come totally off. I mean like not even if scraped... Many people have discussed the health problems of the particles, but what does the smoke from the other contaminants contain??? Needless to say, if you see any of this, DO NOT SMOKE IT!

what the hell is going on? This has got crazy now - does anyone have any clean supplies cos the new stealth grit (i have seen at least 3 diff types) seem to be all over the place?

END OF GRIT WEED

So, if you followed this forum you read about the problems with grit here in Finland. It is over now. We made many sample tests, picture reports and printed warning papers and spread among dealers and users and others. Now we get the good weed again.

I smoked around 10 - 15 gr of grit this winter / spring, got really scared and went to the doctor (a thorax specialist) in May. I brought my own pictures of the grit weed, and information on it from France, England and Sweden. The doc was interested and kept the paper to spread among other doctors. However he told me, after heart and louge xray that I should not worry. With silica is the same rules as with asbestos, it is messured in "hours exposed". The chances of getting them small particles deep into the lungs are very very small. He showed me a report on asbestos and silica handling patiens, and in these cases the people in trubble have been breathing air with up to 12 % of the particles for up to 50 hours.

However, IT IS DAMN SICK THAT, people still smoke this shit, and even worse that some idiots sells it. I talked to friends in Kent, UK, and the problems is still on over there. The best idea is to do what we did. Write a paper with pics and police logo and say that people dealing this can be sent to prison for doing bodily harm to others up to two years, and spread, also inform all dealers by pasting vthe pepers everywhere you can. The dealers wants to earn, and they want buyers, if they are known for good weed, it is good for business and for their self self-esteem.

BIG LOVE
KJ

Just to point out my views on the sand weed. TELL YOUR DEALER THAT IT REMINDS YOU OF BRIDLINGTON AND IT GIVES YOU NIGHTMARES. Tell him that he must of made enough money by now to set up a grow room somewhere and if he hasn't then tell him that McDonalds always has vacancies. Demand the quality that your hard earned cash deserves.

Just to rub sand in the wounds, i've got some rather nice papaya indica that i'm chongin' on right now. Homegrown of course and totally s**t free.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2007 12:56AM by Iguanafootsniffer.

check it out

[www.gritweed.co.uk]

sorry to laugh, but after all these posts:

ha ha ha ha ha ive got lovely clean weed off 2 very good 'clean-weed' only dealer

lol

Just mailed them to say Hi.

Good to see someone geting the message out, it needs to be done.

Derek

Webteam UKCIA

You are aware, of course, that GRIT WEED has NOT ENDED in Finland or Sweden?

They just put less particles so you don't see them as well.

See the forum at Swecan.org:
[www.swecan.org]

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