WASHINGTON 鈥斅� Maryland health officials say they鈥檝e spotted an alarming set of symptoms among users of synthetic marijuana. There have been reports of patients with bleeding gums, bruising, nosebleeds and blood in their urine.
The bleeding disorders have been reported since early April, said Dr. Jaqueline Duval-Harvey, deputy health officer for Prince George鈥檚 County. She said 20 cases have been reported since then. And they鈥檙e similar to cases reported in Illinois, where an anticoagulant called Brodifacoum was found in synthetic marijuana.
鈥淧eople are taking significant risks by using these chemicals because of the impact it鈥檚 having on their blood,” Duval-Harvey said.
Synthetic marijuana goes by a range of names, from fake weed to K2 to spice to Scooby-snax.聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 giving the high that the individual is craving, but that high is temporary and the ultimate impact is very, very dangerous,鈥� Duval-Harvey said.
As Dr. Kathleen Clancy, associate medical director at the National Capital Poison Center, explained, 鈥淏rodifacoum is the common rodenticide that you would purchase in like D-Con or some other product.鈥�
Clancy said it鈥檚 not clear how the chemical is ending up in synthetic marijuana, but what is clear is that it presents a real danger. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very, very long-acting agent, so if you take it, you won鈥檛 be able to clot your blood for weeks or months,鈥� she said
Anyone who has developed bleeding disorders and who has used synthetic cannabinoids in the past three months is urged to get immediate medical care.
Here’s a list of some resources for more information:
- Maryland Department of Health website on聽鈥�
- Maryland Poison Center鈥檚
