Florida Voters Warned of Fentanyl-Laced Marijuana, But Experts Cast Doubt
As Floridians prepare to vote on Amendment 3, a statewide ad blitz is warning of the dangers of black-market marijuana, claiming it may be laced with fentanyl, a potent drug driving an epidemic of fatal drug overdoses. However, experts unaligned with the campaign have cast serious doubt on the claim that fentanyl-tainted marijuana is an actual problem.
The ad campaign, led by the group pushing for legalized marijuana, features Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young, who claims to have seen fentanyl-laced marijuana firsthand. Young argues that legal pot would be regulated and lab-tested, making it a safer option for consumers.
However, several officials on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic say they haven’t seen deaths caused by fentanyl-laced marijuana. Some groups have even called it a myth that the two drugs are combined and sold to unwitting users.
Dr. Bruce Goldberger, a University of Florida forensic toxicologist, monitors drug overdose trends and has not found any definitive evidence of fentanyl-laced marijuana. He notes that while there have been reports of such instances, none have been verified.
A 2022 article in the Journal of Emergency Medicine also referred to fentanyl-laced marijuana as a “malevolent myth,” largely based on hearsay.
The Partnership to End Addiction found no solid evidence exists of fentanyl-laced marijuana and concluded it wouldn’t make sense for drug dealers to secretly mix the pricier opioid with cheaper pot. Fentanyl would likely be burned up and rendered harmless if it were mixed with pot and then smoked, the nonprofit organization of drug researchers and clinicians said.
Legalization supporters argue that there is no way of knowing what is in unregulated pot and that if Amendment 3 passes, consumers would know how potent their pot is and that it is free of harmful additives.
To make their case, the campaign provided a tour of one of the state’s nine medical pot labs to show off the rigorous testing that those products undergo. The lab collects random samples and tests for pesticides, heavy metals, mold, and other potentially health-harming contaminants.
Florida would become the 25th state to legalize recreational marijuana if Amendment 3 passes. Several polls have shown it clearing the 60% threshold it needs to succeed, although a few have found it coming up just short.
The debate highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding marijuana legalization and the potential risks and benefits associated with it. While some argue that legalization would lead to a safer and more controlled product.
