Pubdate: Sat, 05 Aug 2006 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2006 Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06.n1010.a05.html Author: Russell Barth STREET WEED DANGERS Re: What's Really In The Weed, letter to the editor, Aug. 2. Victor Daveikis's letter makes many great points, but I would like to add to it, in an effort to inform kids, specifically. The problem with street weed is that it is often poorly grown. White powdery mildew, bug sprays, fungicides and bad fertilizing practices can contaminate the pot badly. This stuff usually smells like chemicals and burns black, or pops and crackles when it burns. That is why it is just dumb to buy from the street. My epileptic wife had a seizure from that stuff once. "It makes no sense for a dealer to give away their stock for free." says Daveikis, but occasionally, a dealer will sprinkle meth or coke onto a bit of pot for his more naive (younger) customers. Instead of coming back two days later asking for another $20 bag of weed, they come back two hours later demanding more of "whatever the hell that was I just smoked." The problem with meth, Ecstasy, mushrooms and other street drugs is that you don't know who made it. Nine times out of 10, it was probably some freak distracted by his own drug problems, who holds no degree in chemistry or botany, and who is producing for bulk profit, not for safety. Just because someone says it is Ecstasy doesn't necessarily mean that it is. They might not even know they are about to kill you - -- it is just business. Russell Barth, Federal Medical Marijuana Licence Holder, Ottawa. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake