CLOSE At least one person in Illinois has died from synthetic marijuana, and doctors say it may be because of rat poison, according to the Chicago Tribune. Veuer's Sam Berman has the full story. Buzz60

An indoor cannabis grow facility (Photo: Getty Images)

Fake marijuana likely contaminated with rat poison has killed three people in Illinois and caused severe bleeding in more than 100 others, including a few in four other states.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has alerted doctors nationwide that patients with severe, unexplained bleeding may be additional cases.

The CDC is helping Illinois authorities investigate the outbreak in that state, which began in early March. Illinois reported seven more cases on Tuesday, bringing the nationwide total to at least 116.

Several patients and samples of so-called synthetic marijuana from Illinois have tested positive for a lethal ingredient often used in rat poison, the CDC and Illinois authorities said.

More: Fake pot users suffer brain bleeding, bloody urine, Illinois health officials warn

More: Marijuana cultivation like 'growing a weed', Colorado growers advise

Symptoms include coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody noses, bleeding gums and internal bleeding. CDC’s alert says outside Illinois, emergency rooms in Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin and Maryland have treated affected patients since March 10.

Illnesses have been linked to fake marijuana before but this is the first outbreak involving rat poison contamination, said the CDC’s Renee Funk. Those sickened require hospitalization and treatment with vitamin K to control bleeding, she said.

“This is an unusual outbreak,” Funk said Tuesday, adding that is unclear how the contamination occurred.

Fake marijuana, also called synthetic cannabinoids, contains man-made chemicals that produce a high similar to marijuana. It is sold in smoke shops and other stores as liquids that can be used in e-cigarettes or in dried plant material that can be smoked. Nicknames include K2, Spice and Kush.

“The number of cases continues to go up each day,” Melaney Arnold, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health, said Tuesday. “Synthetic cannabinoids in general are not safe and this is one example of not knowing what chemicals are in the product. We are telling people don’t use synthetic cannabinoids.”

The federal government and many states have banned some of these products or specific ingredients, but the CDC says manufacturers skirt these laws by creating new products or labeling them “not for human consumption.”

Tests on fake pot bought at a Chicago convenience store by undercover agents detected the rat poison ingredient, the U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release. Three store employees were arrested and face federal drug charges.

Illnesses from fake marijuana have increased in recent years; a CDC report noted at least 456 cases between 2010 and 2015. The products are up to 100 times more potent than the active ingredient in marijuana and severe reactions have included seizures, coma and delirium.

Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner on Twitter: @LindseyTanner

The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2GP6os9</s>Federal health officials are sounding the alarm about synthetic marijuana laced with rat poison that has already killed three people in Illinois and sent a small army of people vomiting blood to emergency rooms there and in four other states.

“This is an unusual outbreak,” Renee Funk of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Associated Press.

Investigators are not sure yet how the fake pot got contaminated, Funk said. But the CDC has dispatched a team of investigators to Illinois, where the bulk of the cases have been reported, to help pinpoint the source and hopefully identify the culprits.

Meanwhile, people suffering from severe bleeding after toking-up have also shown-up at emergency rooms in Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland and Missouri. And the CDC is warning doctors nationwide to be on the lookout for more such cases.

The rat poison plague has hit the Land of Lincoln hardest, claiming the lives of two men in their 20s and a man in his 40s, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported.

“Each day we’ve seen the number of cases rise,” said Public Heath director Nirav Shah. “Synthetic cannabinoids are unsafe. They are not regulated and people don’t know what chemicals may be in them, like rat poison.”

About a third of the cases, including one of the fatalities, were reported in Chicago and the city’s suburbs, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Officer reported earlier.

Marketed as "Spice" or K2, synthetic pot consist of chemicals that are sprayed on “dried, shredded plant material so they can be smoked or sold as liquids to be vaporized and inhaled in e-cigarettes and other devices,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

They act on brain cell receptors like marijuana and are marketed as safe and legal alternatives to pot.

But they are anything but safe. And they affect the brain much more powerfully than marijuana, the NIDA said.

The troubling developments come in the wake of a CDC report last month which showed that “America’s overdose epidemic” is spreading across the country and across all demographics despite the Trump Administration’s pledge to “win” the drug war.

Some 63,632 Americans were killed by drug overdoses in 2016 — a 21.5 percent jump over the previous year, according to the CDC. And 66 percent of those fatalities involved a prescription painkiller or an illicit opioid like fentanyl.

“No area of the United States is exempt from this epidemic — we all know a friend, family member, or loved one devastated by opioids,” CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat said in a statement.

While Rust Belt states like West Virginia and Ohio continue to be the epicenter of the plague, fentanyl-fueled fatal overdoses are a big city problem now as well.

There was a 54 percent increases in fatal overdoses from July 2016 through September 2017 in major metropolises like Chicago, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Cleveland.

New York City, which is President Donald Trump’s hometown was also not immune. In March, a suspected Mexican drug kingpin known as "Gordo" or "Fatso" was indicted for funneling enough fentanyl into the city to kill millions of people.</s>An outbreak of synthetic marijuana laced with rat poison has killed three and sickened more than 100 in the US Midwest, with officials worried about potentially more cases to come.

Synthetic marijuana is made with chemicals applied to dried plant material, and sold in small foil packages with street names such as Spice and K2. It is also produced in liquid form.

Officials in three Midwestern states are raising the alarm over recent outbreaks of illnesses caused by brodifacoum, a lethal blood thinner used in rat poison, which was in the synthetic pot that victims consumed.

At least some of the poisonous drug was sold in Chicago.

In Illinois, a third death linked to the outbreak was reported Monday. More than 100 other people have been hospitalized with severe symptoms, such as coughing up blood and internal bleeding.

A handful of other people have been sickened in neighboring states -- Wisconsin to the north and Indiana to the southeast.

"Each day we've seen the number of cases rise," Nirav Shah, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, warned in a statement.

"Synthetic cannabinoids are unsafe. They are not regulated and people don't know what chemicals may be in them, like rat poison," Shah said.

The illegal drugs are sold in convenience stores, gas stations and online. Users smoke the drug or inhale it in vaping devices and e-cigarettes.

Police charged three suspects with selling the drug at a Chicago convenience store. Investigators allege the drugs had traces of rat poison.

Fouad Masoud, Jamil Abdelrahman Jad Allah and Adil Khan Mohammed were arrested on April 1 and charged with federal drug offenses.

"While efforts are underway to get the contaminated drugs out of circulation, it's possible they could re-emerge," Shah said.</s>A third person who experienced severe bleeding after using synthetic marijuana has died in Illinois, health officials confirmed.There are now 107 people in central Illinois and the Chicago area who experienced severe bleeding after using the synthetic pot, often called spice, K2 or fake weed, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health."Each day we've seen the number of cases rise," said director of the IDPH Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. "Synthetic cannabinoids are unsafe. They are not regulated and people don't know what chemicals may be in them, like rat poison. While efforts are underway to get the contaminated drugs out of circulation, it's possible they could re-emerge. We urge people not to use synthetic cannabinoids now or ever."This death comes after three Chicago convenience store clerks were charged earlier this the month for allegedly selling the synthetic cannabinoids laced with the known rodent poison, according to police.People who reported illness after taking the drugs said they coughed up blood, had blood in their urine, severe bloody noses, bleeding gums or internal bleeding, according to IDPH The people who died were all men, two in their 20s and one in his 40s. One death occurred in the Chicago area, while two were in central Illinois.Synthetic marijuana is a "designer drug," engineered by people to mimic the effects of natural marijuana. It is often sprayed on dried plants so it can also be smoked, vaped or otherwise consumed similarly. However, the drugs are often combined with other substances that people may not know about or intend to consume, some of them highly dangerous."The synthetic cannabinoids were packaged in sealed containers and labeled with such names as 'Matrix,' 'Blue Giant' and 'Crazy Monkey,'" federal agents said about the drugs associated with these cases."Preliminary testing of some of the cannabinoids purchased by the undercover officer revealed a detectable amount of brodifacoum, a toxic substance frequently used in rat poison."The store workers are each charged with conspiracy to knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, a controlled substance.The men are in custody and awaiting court hearings. It wasn't immediately clear if they had legal representation.</s>Sign up for one of our email newsletters.

Fake marijuana likely contaminated with rat poison has killed three people in Illinois and caused severe bleeding in more than 100, including a few in four other states.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has alerted doctors nationwide that patients with severe, unexplained bleeding may be additional cases.

The CDC is helping Illinois authorities investigate the outbreak in that state, which began in early March. Illinois reported seven more cases Tuesday, bringing the nationwide total to at least 116.

Patients and samples of synthetic marijuana from Illinois have tested positive for a lethal ingredient often used in rat poison, the CDC and Illinois authorities said.

Symptoms include coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody noses, bleeding gums and internal bleeding. CDC's alert says outside Illinois, emergency rooms in Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin and Maryland have treated affected patients since March 10.

Illnesses have been linked to fake marijuana before, but this is the first outbreak involving rat poison contamination, the CDC's Renee Funk said. Those sickened require hospitalization and treatment with vitamin K to control bleeding, she said.

“This is an unusual outbreak,” said Funk, adding it's unclear how the contamination occurred.

Fake marijuana, also called synthetic cannabinoids, contains man-made chemicals that produce a high similar to marijuana. It is sold in smoke shops and other stores as liquids that can be used in e-cigarettes or in dried plant material that can be smoked. Nicknames include K2, Spice and Kush.

“The number of cases continues to go up each day,” said Melaney Arnold, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health. “Synthetic cannabinoids in general are not safe, and this is one example of not knowing what chemicals are in the product. We are telling people don't use synthetic cannabinoids.”

The federal government and many states have banned some of these products or specific ingredients, but the CDC says manufacturers skirt these laws by creating new products or labeling them “not for human consumption.”

Tests on fake pot bought at a Chicago convenience store by undercover agents detected the rat poison ingredient, the U.S. attorney's office said in a news release. Three store employees were arrested and face federal drug charges.

Illnesses from fake marijuana have increased in recent years; a CDC report noted at least 456 cases between 2010 and 2015. The products are up to 100 times more potent than the active ingredient in marijuana, and severe reactions have included seizures, coma and delirium.</s>(Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP). FILE - In this June 29, 2016 file photo, a man holds a bag of synthetic marijuana in Houston. In a report released Tuesday, April 10, 2018, fake marijuana likely contaminated with rat poison has killed three ...

Fake marijuana likely contaminated with rat poison has killed three people in Illinois and caused severe bleeding in more than 100 others, including a few in four other states.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has alerted doctors nationwide that patients with severe, unexplained bleeding may be additional cases.

The CDC is helping Illinois authorities investigate the outbreak in that state, which began in early March. Illinois reported seven more cases on Tuesday, bringing the nationwide total to at least 116.

Several patients and samples of so-called synthetic marijuana from Illinois have tested positive for a lethal ingredient often used in rat poison, the CDC and Illinois authorities said.

Symptoms include coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody noses, bleeding gums and internal bleeding. CDC's alert says outside Illinois, emergency rooms in Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin and Maryland have treated affected patients since March 10.

Illnesses have been linked to fake marijuana before but this is the first outbreak involving rat poison contamination, said the CDC's Renee Funk. Those sickened require hospitalization and treatment with vitamin K to control bleeding, she said.

"This is an unusual outbreak," Funk said Tuesday, adding that is unclear how the contamination occurred.

Fake marijuana, also called synthetic cannabinoids, contains man-made chemicals that produce a high similar to marijuana. It is sold in smoke shops and other stores as liquids that can be used in e-cigarettes or in dried plant material that can be smoked. Nicknames include K2, Spice and Kush.

"The number of cases continues to go up each day," Melaney Arnold, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health, said Tuesday. "Synthetic cannabinoids in general are not safe and this is one example of not knowing what chemicals are in the product. We are telling people don't use synthetic cannabinoids."

The federal government and many states have banned some of these products or specific ingredients, but the CDC says manufacturers skirt these laws by creating new products or labeling them "not for human consumption."

Tests on fake pot bought at a Chicago convenience store by undercover agents detected the rat poison ingredient, the U.S. attorney's office said in a news release. Three store employees were arrested and face federal drug charges.

Illnesses from fake marijuana have increased in recent years; a CDC report noted at least 456 cases between 2010 and 2015. The products are up to 100 times more potent than the active ingredient in marijuana and severe reactions have included seizures, coma and delirium.

Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner on Twitter at @LindseyTanner. Her work can be found here .

The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>CHICAGO (AP) - Fake marijuana likely contaminated with rat poison has killed three people in Illinois and sickened more than 100 others in the last month.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most cases are in Illinois but a few others have occurred in Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri and Maryland. It warns doctors nationwide to look out for patients with severe unexplained bleeding.

Authorities say several patients and samples of fake weed from Illinois have tested positive for a lethal ingredient often used in rat poison.

FILE - In this June 29, 2016 file photo, a man holds a bag of synthetic marijuana in Houston. In a report released Tuesday, April 10, 2018, fake marijuana likely contaminated with rat poison has killed three people in Illinois and sickened more than 100 others in the past month. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Fake marijuana contains chemicals that produce a marijuana-like high. They're sold in some convenience stores as liquids for use in e-cigarettes or in dried plant material that can be smoked. Nicknames include K2, Spice and Kush.

Illinois reported seven more illnesses on Tuesday.</s>Three people in Illinois have died after experiencing severe bleeding linked to use of synthetic marijuana, health officials say, and a chemical used in rat poison has been detected in at least one of those cases. According to the Illinois Department of Health, 107 people have been treated for severe bleeding linked to the drug since March 7, mostly in the Chicago area.

Officials say one of the deaths was a 22-year-old man who died of excessive internal bleeding March 28, CBS Chicago reports.

Although an official cause of death has not yet been determined, an autopsy detected the presence of brodifacoum, a deadly anticoagulant used in rat poison, which has recently been found in several cases of synthetic marijuana use in Illinois. It can cause severe bleeding, which can be fatal.

"This poisoning is unique in that its effects can last weeks to months. Symptoms may range from unexplained bruising, bleeding from the nose or gums, blood in the urine or stools, coughing up or vomiting blood, to bleeding in the brain. Even without symptoms, the blood's ability to clot is severely impaired and risk of bleeding is high," Dr. Jenny Lu, a toxicologist and emergency medicine physician at Stroger Hospital, told CBS Chicago.

"As bleeding can be life-threatening," she continued, "it is important that people who have used synthetic marijuana seek medical attention at the first sign of poisoning so we can begin treatment right away."

Synthetic cannabis — often called Spice, K2, or fake weed — consists of man-made mind-altering chemicals either sprayed on dried shredded plant material, or sold as a liquid to be vaporized and inhaled. Foil packets of the drug are often sold over the counter at convenience stores, sometimes deceptively labeled as "herbal incense" or "potpourri."

Most of the cases in the outbreak involved synthetic marijuana purchased from Chicago-area convenience stores, dealers, or friends, but officials warn the contaminated products could be in counties across the state or beyond.

"With this particular cluster, what we are seeing is people are coming in with various types of bleeding," Dr. Jennifer Layden, the chief medical officer of the Illinois Department of Public Health, told CBS Chicago in March. "Whether it's nose bleeds, bleeding from their gums, bleeding in their urine. Very severe bleeding that's prompting them to go to the emergency room."

Several similar cases have been reported in other states including Maryland, Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri. The New York State Department of Health has issued a statewide health advisory about the risk, although it says no cases have been reported in New York to date.

Three people are facing federal charges for allegedly selling synthetic marijuana to undercover officers at a mini-mart in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago. Investigators say traces of the rat poison chemical brodifacoum were found in preliminary tests. The packets seized were labeled with such names as "Matrix," "Blue Giant," and "Crazy Monkey."

Public health officials have said the product is not safe, and urge that if anyone has purchased it they shouldn't use it.</s>CHICAGO — Fake marijuana likely contaminated with rat poison has killed three people in Illinois and sickened more than 100 others in the last month.

The U.S. federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most cases are in Illinois but a few others have occurred in Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri and Maryland. It warns doctors nationwide to look out for patients with severe unexplained bleeding.

Authorities say several patients and samples of fake weed from Illinois have tested positive for a lethal ingredient often used in rat poison.

Fake marijuana contains chemicals that produce a marijuana-like high. They're sold in some convenience stores as liquids for use in e-cigarettes or in dried plant material that can be smoked. Nicknames include K2, Spice and Kush.</s>ALBANY — Officials in New York are warning hospital emergency rooms about a new form of synthetic marijuana laced with rat poison that is linked to cases of uncontrolled bleeding.

The state issued the warning on Monday. Officials say that while authorities haven't found the substance in New York yet, cases of severe and life-threatening bleeding have been reported in five states: Illinois, Maryland, Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri.

The guidance to hospitals and clinics instructs them to be on the lookout for people complaining of severe bleeding not related to an injury, or when the bleeding occurred after using synthetic marijuana.

Many different chemical compounds are used to manufacture so-called synthetic marijuana. While the substances are intended to mimic the effects of marijuana, they are often far more dangerous for users.
Synthetic cannabis containing rat poison kills three and injures over 100 across the United States according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.