Smoked my fair share when younger but never heard of this!

Germany: Marijuana smokers were poisoned with lead in Leipzig
By Denise Grady Published: April 15, 2008

They had stomach cramps, nausea, anemia and fatigue, and some even had a telltale bluish line along their gums — classic signs of lead poisoning. But the cases, last year in Leipzig, Germany, puzzled doctors. Lead poisoning is rare in Germany, and yet here were 29 cases in just a few months. The doctors noticed a pattern: the patients were young, from 16 to 33; they were students or unemployed; and they had body piercings and a history of smoking.

In a letter published Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine, the doctors wrote, "On questioning, all the patients eventually conceded that they were regular users of marijuana."

Three provided samples for testing. Sure enough, their marijuana was full of lead. One bag bought from a dealer even contained lead particles big enough to see, which meant the lead must have been added deliberately, rather than being absorbed into the plant from contaminated soil.

The core temperature of a joint can reach nearly 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, the doctors noted — more than hot enough to melt lead, which can be absorbed through the respiratory tract.

The poisoning was widely reported by German newspapers and television, and an anonymous lead-screening program was set up for marijuana users. Among 145 people who showed up for testing, 95 more cases were found.

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The authorities do not know where the tainted marijuana came from or why the lead was added, but the German police suspect that it was done to make money. The samples tested contained 10 percent lead by weight, which translates into an increased profit of about $682 per pound of marijuana.

The patients are recovering and taking medicines called chelating agents to help remove the lead from their bodies. But it could take years to clear it completely, particularly from bones. And some were quite disillusioned to learn that poison was added to what they thought was a pure, all-natural product, said their doctor, Prof. Michael Stumvoll of University Hospital in Leipzig, who commented, "How naïve!"

In America, Marijuana smokers get lead poisoning....




....From Policemen's bullets.

Okay, soap box time!

U.S. alcohol deaths per annum (traffic related NOT included) = 110,000.

U.S. marijuana deaths per annum = 0.

Deaths attributed to marijuana are crime related (Irie's lead poisoning) or confounded by cigarette smoking. This is older info from the World Health Organization.

If we federally control and tax it, most likely the cost will go down, just like the dollar, housing, etc.

The US Gov't is missing out on the greatest potential new tax base in Lord knows how many years.....

Sell MJ just as they do alcohol...$.50 per gram tax...a 1/2 oz will cost you another $7.00 in tax...and Americans would happily pay it.

It is proven in many studies (none differ) that MJ is a far safer enebriant than alcohol, there is no risk of overdose, and MJ is already beginng to display it's massive medicinal properties in the medical community. (Medical MJ should NOT be taxed....not fair to tax the sick and dying for their med's).

Could you just imagine the BILLIONS of DOLLARS that the US Gov't would have to build prisons to hold the TRUE CRIMINALS??? Murderers, rapists,etc. that now get out because all the cells are full of incarcerated and sick medical MJ users that got arrested for being sick and wanting to stay healthy.

I don't even want to get started on the maggots that put lead in the baggies...talk about idiots. I would bet those fools won't show their faces on the streets for awhile!

ISO

Aunty you are starting to sound like a liberal. Maybe you are a libertarian. I don't think it will ever happen. They wont even legalize the production of hemp.

Canada and Mexico would never forgive us for the damage to their economies.

I don't know DanS, but based on his writings here, maybe Canada and Mexico could contract with him to stay afloat!

Pot is bad, I tell you. Bad, Bad, Bad. Didn't you all see Reefer Madness?

Only if that was the film shown during the narcotics law enforcement convention scene in the movie "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" - something about "the reefer addict, when not robbing people, can be identified by the semen stains on his pants.."

Again, this is no reflection on Dan S., whom I do not know

I try to wash my pants every so often.

Thanks for playing along! Somehow, this has got to involve Sol as well....

Sol can stabilize Mexico's economy.

I have Canada covered.

I'm going to let that one slide.

But only because it's your B-day.

Doubtful something that awful could happen...but there may be times when someone forgets to....reel..

ISO

Yeah.........yeah.

THAT'S why I chucked that rod and reel overboard.........out of concern for my pal, Caveman.

Hmmm, would your grip have been better if the rod manufacturer used hemp fibers instead of graphite in that rod? Gives a whole new meaning to "high sticking" doesn't it!?!