3rd Fake Weed Death, 107 Cases Of Severe Bleeding Confirmed In IL

ILLINOIS — Another Illinois resident has died of internal bleeding caused by ingredients in synthetic cannabinoids, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported Tuesday. That brings the state's official tally to three deaths — the latest a man in his 40s — as a result of synthetic marijuana. But some reports indicate the total could be slightly higher, with reports of individuals dying in Kane County, Peoria County and last week in Chicago.

On Friday, officials said a 22-year-old Chicago man had also died of severe internal bleeding days earlier after using synthetic cannabis at an Oak Lawn motel. A total of 107 people in Chicago and central Illinois have been admitted to hospitals after suffering severe bleeding as a result of synthetic marijuana.

“Each day we’ve seen the number of cases rise,” said IDPH Director 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.”

In some cases, synthetic marijuana has been confirmed to contain rat poison, which uses a lethal anticoagulant to kill rodents. In Chicago, three employees of a convenience store have been charged in connection with selling synthetic marijuana — known as K2 or spice — that contained a chemical used in rat poison as well as a substance banned last year by the FDA.

IDPH said the first cases of severe bleeding were reported March 7. Patients have reported coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody nose, bleeding gums, and/or internal bleeding. IDPH officials said bleeding from the eyes and ears can also occur.

The reports have prompted counties statewide to issue warnings to residents to avoid the drug.

Synthetic cannabinoids are found across Illinois and the U.S. in places like convenience stores, gas stations, drug paraphernalia shops, novelty stores and online, IDPH said. Anyone who has a reaction to synthetic cannabinoids, such as severe bleeding, should call 911 or have someone take them to the emergency department immediately.