2 Colorado deaths with edibles/pot implicated

jmuscatello

Two bummer stories out of Denver....

The first was last month and may be one of the first, or only, deaths (suicide or accidental fall after eating a pot cookie) where pot is listed as a cause:
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/04/16/college-student-ate-6-times-recommended-amount-of-pot-cookie-before-jumping-to-death/

and then 2 days ago, this, where a 47-year old fatally shot his wife while hallucinating after reportedly eating or smoking pot:
denver.cbslocal.com/2014/04/16/denver-man-held-without-bond-in-wifes-911-slaying/

I'm as pro-pot and pro-legalization (medical and recreational) as a person can get. The delayed-action of the edibles is tricky though, especially for first-timers. Don't know what the answer is, but maybe regulating the serving sizes (who in the world can stop at 1/6 of a cookie?), or maybe restricting edible sales to medical sales only (keeping it away from recreational tourists). I think edibles are an important option for medical marijuana patients to have. Still waiting to hear if the shooter in the second story was smoking or eating, or if there was booze or other drugs involved as well.

When in Colorado, listen to your budtender and be careful with edibles....

chadwick

edit .

hedonist

I've said in other threads that I've tried edibles, but tricky is an understatement for me in terms of gauging the intake and effect.

I'm not sure limiting them to non-recreational use is the answer though - people need to exercise responsibility and caution no matter their reason for using it (or anything, really). Someone overdoing it either intentionally or not isn't enough reason for restriction.

And the second story - I'd be willing to bet there were other factors that got him to that point.

brianlux

People have overdosed on aspirin and cough syrup as well. I hope this doesn't get too pumped by by pot prohibitionists.

Jason P

The only time I've ever seen a person totally wig out on weed was when they ate it in some brownies. And this was just made with mexican brick.

lukin2006

brianlux said:

People have overdosed on aspirin and cough syrup as well. I hope this doesn't get too pumped by by pot prohibitionists.

Unfortunately they will ... let's not forget the crimes that are committed by people who are after booze and smokes.

lukin2006

That's the problem when the government has so little scientific information to either go on or they refuse to acknowledge the scientific information. It should be legalized and regulated everywhere ... but most importantly experts should be/been consulted ... and determine what forms can be legally sold in a safe manner.

But far more people cause harm when using alcohol ... people need to know there limits.

jmuscatello

hedonist said:

I've said in other threads that I've tried edibles, but tricky is an understatement for me in terms of gauging the intake and effect.

I'm not sure limiting them to non-recreational use is the answer though - people need to exercise responsibility and caution no matter their reason for using it (or anything, really). Someone overdoing it either intentionally or not isn't enough reason for restriction.

And the second story - I'd be willing to bet there were other factors that got him to that point.

I'm willing to bet the same - it's a stretch to think pot alone could cause violence. I think too, that limiting edibles to medicinal would be too extreme. I think they might need to work out the serving sizes though. A single serving of 10 mg THC in 1/10th of a cookie could be tricky for the inexperienced.

From what I've seen, employees in the recreational shops are going out of their way to warn people about delayed effects, overconsumption, keeping it away from kids, public consumption and driving.

hedonist

jmuscatello said:

hedonist said:

I've said in other threads that I've tried edibles, but tricky is an understatement for me in terms of gauging the intake and effect.

I'm not sure limiting them to non-recreational use is the answer though - people need to exercise responsibility and caution no matter their reason for using it (or anything, really). Someone overdoing it either intentionally or not isn't enough reason for restriction.

And the second story - I'd be willing to bet there were other factors that got him to that point.

I'm willing to bet the same - it's a stretch to think pot alone could cause violence. I think too, that limiting edibles to medicinal would be too extreme. I think they might need to work out the serving sizes though. A single serving of 10 mg THC in 1/10th of a cookie could be tricky for the inexperienced.

From what I've seen, employees in the recreational shops are going out of their way to warn people about delayed effects, overconsumption, keeping it away from kids, public consumption and driving.

A few months ago, I bought a lozenge from the dispensary I go to and as professional / knowledgeable as they are, they didn't give me the general warnings but did say that one lozenge was four doses. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago when I was in bad pain and went to give it a try. Couldn't remember the dosage, no notation on the wrapper nor delineations on the medicine itself. Found that surprising.

(by the way, it tasted nasty!)

jmuscatello

I can totally see how that kind of thing happens.... hopefully the dose-guessing took away the pain, maybe with a nap you weren't planning on... That's what the recreational budtenders say: "if you found you've taken too much, really... just go take a nap".

jmuscatello

lukin2006 said:

That's the problem when the government has so little scientific information to either go on or they refuse to acknowledge the scientific information. It should be legalized and regulated everywhere ... but most importantly experts should be/been consulted ... and determine what forms can be legally sold in a safe manner.

But far more people cause harm when using alcohol ... people need to know there limits.

In a perfect world, the legislators would all try it, sit around and let it sink in, laugh a great deal, and then come up with regulations that make sense. Maybe the Dems and GOP would even agree on a few things under those circumstances. A bill is being introduced here now that deals with edibles, but I think it's missing the mark.... and my immediate thought was that the legislators lack the expertise to do this right... consult with experts. I can't believe they haven't called me yet.

And yes, from a public health standpoint, alcohol is way more dangerous on every level I can think of.

josevolution

Sad but yeah those cookies can be very potent i have a personal friend who is a grower and he bakes cookies for me 1 does the trick for someone my size 5' 6" 150lbs , i can see where 1st timers might freak out ...

hedonist

One day when I was in Junior High, I came home from school and went to chill in my parents' bedroom to watch TV. I was buzzed myself, relaxed, guard down.

An hour or so later, my older sister burst out of the hall closet where she'd been in for who knows how long, pretending to shoot me and doing / saying other weird shit that was totally unlike her and it freaked me the fuck out. I'll never forget it, her face, her eyes, how she wasn't really seeing me.

Turns out she'd smoked a joint that had been laced with PCP. I wonder if something similar happened with the man who shot his wife.

mikepegg44

hedonist said:

One day when I was in Junior High, I came home from school and went to chill in my parents' bedroom to watch TV. I was buzzed myself, relaxed, guard down.

An hour or so later, my older sister burst out of the hall closet where she'd been in for who knows how long, pretending to shoot me and doing / saying other weird shit that was totally unlike her and it freaked me the fuck out. I'll never forget it, her face, her eyes, how she wasn't really seeing me.

Turns out she'd smoked a joint that had been laced with PCP. I wonder if something similar happened with the man who shot his wife.

I can't imagine being stoned and trying to gather what is happening when someone high on PCP busts in the room...yikes..


the man may have just planned on doing it and needed to get high ... News flash, people do weird shit, and sometimes they are high...

PCP is no joke though, gives you chimpanzee strength and a crazy ass mind to go with it...

jmuscatello

denverpost.com/news/ci_25587527/observatory-park-husband-ate-marijuana-candy-before-shooting?source=hot-topic-bar

Mentions here that the guy may also have taken painkillers. Which, like pot, doesn't seem like it would send him in a violent or hallucinatory direction. Makes me think maybe he was already in a manic state, maybe with psychosis, and was using the pot and painkillers to try to bring himself down? Just a guess. His brother says he doesn't remember doing it. I was thinking PCP or LSD laced something too, but I guess he bought a joint and pot candies that night from a store. They'll have blood test and mental health reports soon enough....

and true, people do weird shit, and sometimes they are high (or drunk, much more often)....

jmuscatello

also saw the guy was talking about being the king or leader of the Latter Day Saints or something to that effect.... probably had some issues.

hedonist

Oh man, PCP is on my never-do list along with meth and the like. And yeah, all my years of smoking and not once encountered aggression unless other factors (or drugs or alcohol) were involved.

Painkillers? I agree with you, jmuscatello on the non-violence, though it can really mess with the body and mind over time. I stay away from those as much as I can.