We’ve all been told to watch out for spiked drinks at parties. But what about drugs in your food?
Nowadays, it seems like there are more kinds of edible marijuana than ever before. Because of this, accidental consumption of weed happens more than you think it does.
Here’s one example:
In November 2017, three Michigan teens were hospitalized after they were tricked into eating marijuana-laced cereal. Police are investigating the incident and the ninth grader who reportedly gave the students the food.
Unfortunately, eating marijuana is more dangerous than smoking it. The effects from smoking marijuana only take minutes. Edibles, however, take between 1-3 hours because food is absorbed into the bloodstream through the liver. The amount of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, is very difficult to measure and is often unknown in food, making overdose (especially if you don’t know you’re consuming weed-laced food) more likely.
If you’re super nervous about consuming drug-laced foods at parties, consider these tips to help put your mind at ease:
Think about how well you know the host. Close friends or family who are aware of your desire to be drug-free are less likely to knowingly expose you to laced goods. People you don’t really know, though, might not be as considerate.
Edibles can come in different forms. Marijuana edibles have evolved from homemade brownies and cookies. Nowadays, THC-infused food (like chips and candy) can come in packaging that look very similar to popular brands like Frito-Lay and Skittles. So either bring your own snacks to eat or take a close look at the packaging on any product before opening and eating. Many times, the packaging will indicate that the food contains THC, but you may miss the labeling if you’re in a hurry.
Ask questions. Finally, chat with other partygoers! Get the vibe of the crowd, learn more about the host (if you don’t know him or her), find out who made which dish, etc.
Have fun at parties! But there’s nothing wrong with a little extra precaution if you find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings.