New York marijuana regulators have been working to dispel the “false narrative” that cannabis is often contaminated with fentanyl. This “misconception,” they claim, is “widely held” despite lack of evidence.
The Office of Cannabis Management in the state recently released a factsheet about the issue. It acknowledged that while fentanyl can be found in heroin and MDMA, the anecdotal reports of marijuana being laced with this potent opioid have not been proven.
OCM released the two-page “Cannabis and Fentanyl Facts and Unknowns”, to “address misperceptions about cannabis mixed with fentanyl,” according to its statement. The goal of the fact sheet is “to provide evidence when it is available and share information about what we currently know and do not know, as well as to provide safety advice to help alleviate these misconceptions that are often spread by misinformed media and anecdotal reports.”
The office stated that “misinformation regarding the dangers of accidental overdose caused by cannabis ‘contaminated with fentanyl’ remains widespread.” As of last week, “anecdotal accounts of fentanyl-contaminated cannabis are false”
Via the Office of Cannabis Management
The regulators stressed that this is not to minimize the dangers posed by fentanyl. This drug is found in illicit drugs and contributes to the record-high overdose death rates, they said. Certain opioids are found in synthetics such as K-2 or “spice “)–, cocaine, heroin, MDMA, and pressed pills. But regulators believe it is important to give the public evidence-based information on cannabis, especially when the state’s new legal cannabis market begins.
OCM wants to emphasize that buying marijuana at licensed shops reduces contamination risks. The safest choice for consumers, therefore, is to switch from illegal sellers to regulated ones. Access remains a problem, however, since the legalization process in California has been surprisingly slow.
The factsheet states that “Cannabis products sold on the unregulated market could contain undeclared or unknown contaminants, and may have inaccurate labels.” The factsheet also states that current testing protocols are not reliable for fentanyl in cannabis flowers.
OCM stated that “Fentanyl Test Strips were designed to test substances that are water-soluble. Current testing methods focus on detecting fentanyl presence in powders or tablets.” As fentanyl does not exist in cannabis, it is not recommended that fentanyl testing strips be used to test the substance.
The regulators also recognized that people who use opioids can be “stigmatized” in the health care setting, which can have a negative impact because “it can contribute to mistrust and lead to inaccurate self-reporting of opioid use or failure to disclose it due to fear or inequitable treatment or punitive intervention by law enforcement.”
documents states that “Promoting opioid abuse prevention and harm reduction strategies improves the public health by evidence-based interventions, stigma reduction and reducing drug use.”
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Anecdotal claims about fentanyl-contaminated marijuana have commonly originated from law enforcement sources, with warnings then carried by media outlets. This narrative was sometimes adopted by legislators, even at the federal level.
Vern Buchanan, a Republican from Florida, proposed in May an amendment to the fentanyl bill which would have mandated that the Government Accountability Office conduct a study on cannabis contaminated with fentanyl. The House Rules Committee did not consider it for consideration on the floor.
Vivek RAMASWAMY, a GOP presidential candidate for 2024, has suggested that China supplies Mexican drug cartels with ingredients to manufacture fentanyl laced products including “CBD Gummies.”
In New York, this factsheet is just one example of how regulators encourage adults to buy cannabis at licensed shops that test the product for many potential contaminants. While access is still limited, recent state steps have been taken to accelerate implementation.
New York for instance, opened its application period last month for hundreds of new marijuana businesses. This marked the beginning of an expansion of New York’s legal cannabis industry. Since adult-use sales started last December, only a few dozen stores have opened in the state.
This change allows all applicants to apply for retail licenses, including large businesses outside of the state as well as existing medical marijuana companies. This sparked a backlash from social equity applicants who claimed it would undermine the state’s ambitious plans to prioritize small business and companies owned directly by people affected by prohibition.
The Cannabis Growers Showcase program (CGS) was also launched by regulators. This allows licensed growers to sell directly to customers. approved the program by regulators in July, and quickly began accepting applications. In August, the Hudson Valley hosted its first pop-up. Another was held near the state fair.
In a letter sent to Hochul late last month, about 66 lawmakers — or a third of all the state legislators — urged her to approve a bill allowing licensed marijuana producers to sell their products to tribal retailers . This plan will provide a way for cannabis farmers to release surpluses they have but are unable to sell.
In the letter, it is stated that growers have more than 250.000 pounds of cannabis they are not selling. Farmers who borrowed money and used all of their assets to grow these crops face financial ruin unless they are provided with an alternative market.
Fact sheet on New York cannabis and Fentanyl Below:
Photo by WeedPornDaily.
The article New York officials debunk’misinformation’ about fentanyl-laced marijuana first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
