Citation

Busse F, Omidi L, Leichtle A, Windgassen M, Kluge E, Stumvoll M. New Engl. J. Med. 2008; 358(15): 1641-1642.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Massachusetts Medical Society)

DOI

10.1056/NEJMc0707784

PMID

18403778

Abstract

Recently, during a period of 3 to 4 months, 29 patients (16 to 33 years of age) were admitted to four different hospitals in the greater Leipzig Germany area (population, approximately 650,000) with classic signs and symptoms of acute lead intoxication.

After a lengthy epidemiologic investigation some of poisoning victims acknowledged that they regularly smoked marijuana. Upon close examination of of several patients supplies of the drug small lead particles were detected. This strongly indicated that the lead was deliberately added to the package rather than inadvertently incorporated into the marijuana plants from contaminated soil. At this point, we involved the police, and a full criminal investigation was begun.

The current working hypothesis of the police is that because of its high specific gravity and inconspicuous grayish color, lead was used to increase the weight of street marijuana sold by the gram and thereby to maximize profits among dealers. In the material that was obtained, the lead content on average was 10% by weight, which translates into a profit increase of approximately Euro 1,000 (US$1,500.00) per kilogram of marijuana. Lead particles smoked in a joint, which can have a core temperature of 1200°C, are very effectively absorbed in the respiratory tract. The medical community, including pediatricians, should consider adulterated marijuana as a potential source of lead intoxication.

Powerpoint slides illustrating the adulterated marijuana are available from the publisher via the doi link.

Language: en