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What Is Grit Weed

June 2, 2020

One of the most legit arguments supporting the legalization of cannabis is that its prohibition puts the industry into the hands of unscrupulous sellers and organized crime units. When the product is legalized, the government can control its sale by licensing trusted dealers. Luckily, in most places, medical marijuana is authorized, and thus, people living in these areas have access to high-quality products. Unfortunately, in situations where weed is illegal, consumers have to put up with substandard products.

A significant challenge of shopping in the black market is the likelihood of buying contaminated marijuana. Worse still, you cannot report the seller to the police. Over the past years, the terrifying “grit weed” has made a comeback to the industry. It is the addition of contaminants to marijuana to increase the product’s weight. Unfortunately, smoking such substances is unhealthy.

What Is Grit Weed?

It refers to contaminated weed, specifically, that which has been laced with silica glass. The dealer aims at making the product heavier so that they can fetch more money. Sometimes you might find that marijuana has been laced with sugar or sand. While that is annoying, it is way better than that which has been sprayed with silica. What’s worse is that the cannabis looks like it is covered in crystals.

The dangers of using grit weed are enormous. We have heard stories of users that lost their voice or even coughed blood. In many instances, the consumers end up in hospital beds. Sadly, unscrupulous dealers are after money, and they don’t care about the quality of the product they are selling. As such, it’s up to you to look after yourself.

Cannabis Contamination

Grit weed is one of the forms of marijuana contamination. There are several other ways in which cannabis becomes tainted. Here are the most common:

Pesticides

Organically-grown foodstuffs have become popular over the past decade. However, some farmers are still using pesticides on their crops because they fear to lose their produce to pests like mites and aphids. Consequently, they use chemicals to protect their crops. Some substances stay on the leaves for a prolonged period, and eventually, the consumer is exposed. Reputable farmers test for residual pesticides on the plants, but some don’t care.

Bacteria

A famous study on marijuana contamination is known as the Thompson study. The researcher found an array of gram-negative bacteria on dispensary-grade weed. The best way to avoid bacterial contamination on cannabis is to buy products that have undergone microbial testing. Although the current dispensary marijuana is of improved quality, it’s a good idea to look out for potential contaminants.

Residual solvents

This kind of contamination is prevalent in manufacturers that extract cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. If you like vaping, then you are at risk of inhaling enduring solvents. To avoid this, go for oil products that have been extracted using the supercritical CO2 method. The process utilizes carbon dioxide as opposed to conventional solutions. Consequently, no liquids are left behind following the extraction process. It is different from when you use solvents like butane. Even the best attempts might leave some solvents in the weed.

Fungus

The most prevalent fungi are powdery mildew and grey mold. You can notice such contamination by looking at the white fuzz on the buds. Even dispensary cannabis is prone to fungal contamination. If you see traces of mold, don’t use that product.

General contamination

While most contamination occurs during the growing and extraction processes, the retailers aren’t innocent. The handlers might not follow the recommended handling procedures. To avoid such alterations, make sure you buy your weed from reputable sellers.

How Do I Know if My Cannabis Is Contaminated?

Taking marijuana that has been contaminated poses a high risk to your wellness. That is why you should know how to spot contaminated weed. You can understand if the cannabis has silica by chewing a small portion. Grit weed will feel course on your teeth. The primary alternative is rubbing the product against the glass, and if it produces a scraping sound, it has silica.

Another method is to create kief. Put it on a clean surface and roll glass over it. If you notice scratching or cracking sounds, there is a chance that it is laced with silica. You can also use a blank CD if you find one. Rub the weed on the CD and look out for scratches.

Spotting grit weed isn’t a walk in the pack because glass particles are usually less than 0.02mm. Particles larger than 0.015mm may not land in the lungs. They might end up in the throat and lungs. You can use your five senses to look out for other kinds of contamination. Now that we have highlighted hearing ability, here are the other four:

Touch

Put the weed between your fingers. If the product feels dry and crispy, it might not have mold. However, that isn’t a guarantee that it is free from contamination. If it feels damp and spongy, it could be riddled with mold. You should stay away from powdery marijuana because the dealer may have added a contaminant.

Sight

Experienced users might spot contaminated marijuana from afar. If you notice some white speckles among the green or gray weed, the plant might contain mildew or mold. You may also burn a joint and check the ashes. Toxic weed usually leaves black, hard ash.

Taste

When you smoke weed, it should leave a natural taste. Again, experienced consumers have the upper hand at this. If the product leaves an unusual unpleasant taste, something might be completely wrong. You can also place the bud on your tongue. If it has an excessively sweet taste, it might be coated with sugar.

Smell

The terpenes in weed give an exceptional scent for every strain. Generally, it produces a musky smell with a sweet aroma. If the product has some moisture, there is a possibility of it being infected with mold.  

The Danger of Contaminated Weed

Grit weed is likely to cause grave harm to your health. Many contaminants that are used to increase the weight of marijuana and its potencies, such as silica and diesel, are toxic and foreign to the body.

A direct effect of contaminated weed is severe chest pains. If you don’t manage these symptoms, they could end up in fatalities. You could also suffer allergic reactions from consuming contaminated marijuana. Have you ever experienced excessive mucus production, itchy throat, or eye inflammation after consuming weed? Was this a natural reaction, or did it happen once? If you are used to such responses, you should consider not using marijuana. However, if it was a one-time occurrence, then the weed could have been contaminated.

The same applies to contaminants resulting from weed that wasn’t flushed properly. This is a common blunder among marijuana farmers, especially those in unregulated markets. They use chemicals to increase the production of their plants or keep mold and pests at bay. A commonly used pesticide, known as myclobutanil, has these side effects:

  • Vomiting
  • Rash
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nosebleed
  • Headache
  • Eye irritation

Upon heating myclobutanil, it produces hydrogen cyanide. The chemical was used by Nazis in gas chambers to perform massacres. Its side effects include:

  • Unconsciousness
  • Convulsions
  • Respiratory difficulty
  • Palpitations

If you smoke a joint with myclobutanil, you can imagine what will happen to your body.

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