Cannabis and Cadmium

[bradiston]

I've read several scientific reports done on the propensity for cannabis plants to store heavy metals. This, according to all the research, is true. Cannabis is what's known as a hyper accumulator, meaning it is highly tolerant of and indeed, highly attracted to, heavy metals in the growing medium it inhabits. So in all the tests, highly elevated levels of eg Cadmium, arsenic, and lead, were found. But I suggest that it is very much dependent on where the plants are grown, and the growing medium. Hydroponics, for instance, surely allow a great degree of control over the growing medium?

 

It also means cannabis plants can be, and are, used to clean soil of all the accumulated crap, fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides etc etc with which mankind douses the soil. But I guess the resultant uptake of potentially harmful metals could prove hazardous to human health. So I guess sourcing the product for human consumption becomes of very much greater importance.

 

Anyway, I'm only posting as I've not seen this topic raised before. I'm not a user, but I follow the politicians idiot pronouncements, so try and educate myself accordingly.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10519194/

 

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230903/Marijuana-users-have-elevated-levels-of-cadmium-and-lead-in-their-blood-and-urine.aspx

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/30/health/marijuana-heavy-metals-wellness/index.html#:~:text=Marijuana users also had 22,out to through the kidney.

[nglodnig]

Wow! Spliffs with extra cadmium! Where can I get them?

[ThaiFelix]

Seems lately there are some who are desperately searching for anything negative about cannabis and farang to put in the news??

[Irish star]

5 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said:

Seems lately there are some who are desperately searching for anything negative about cannabis and farang to put in the news??

Mostly the alcoholics , it’s like a competition with those morons 

[2baht]

18 hours ago, bradiston said:

Cannabis is what's known as a hyper accumulator, meaning it is highly tolerant of and indeed, highly attracted to, heavy metals in the growing medium it inhabits.

No wonder I'm gaining so much weight! 😏

[SamuiGrower]

The bigger concern is who is consuming heavy metal laden weed. I’m fairly certain by most responses I’ve read here, in this thread, and on the forum, in particular to, pesticides, mold and mycotoxins, is an overwhelming lack of concern or venomous response to any and all negative information to cannabis. How about if you are a prescription medical user? Should you start being concerned now? Thailand has no mandatory testing for safety or quality control of cannabis. Keep reading for a little background first….or just skip to “cheap weed but looks good post” LOL.

 

You are correct, cannabis is a hyperaccumulator plant (amongst others), up-taking heavy metals from soil, water and nutrients. These heavy metals are stored in vacuoles (organelles) in the leaves and flowers. Cadmium in particular.

 

It (cannabis/hemp) has been used in soil remediation for quite some time. Several hundred hectares were planted in the Chernobyl exclusion zone to mitigate the soil. The plants were then uprooted and treated as nuclear waste.

 

The top four elements/metals of concern to cannabis smokers are: Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic and Mercury (Pb, Cd, As, Hg). A study conducted over 10 years showed that 7,200 cannabis smokers showed elevated levels of cadmium and lead + 22% and 27% respectively. 

 

The FDA and USP has defined 12 elemental contaminants. The top four: lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury are the bare minimum standard in the USA and Canada for mandatory testing for cannabis flower, concentrates and edibles. They constitute known neurotoxins, carcinogens or endocrine disrupters. Some states test for more. For example, California tests for: 68 pesticides, 20 solvents, 6 microbes, 5 mycotoxins and 4 heavy metals previously stated. Some states will perform an 8 element assay, to include: chromium, copper, nickel and aluminum or other trace elements.

 

To be clear, cannabis products that do not pass heavy metal, pesticide, mycotoxin and residual solvent are destroyed and do not enter the seed-to-sale stream.

 

And, just to make it a little frustrating: many of these heavy metals are needed for healthy growth of cannabis - in trace amounts of course. Aluminum is NOT a trace metal needed for cannabis growth but it is accumulated and I use it as an example. Aluminum is the 3rd most abundant element in the earth - about 8%. And bound to silica, as in aluminum silicate and that makes up 50% of the earths crust. Do I need to mention aluminum is considered a heavy metal in toxicity testing?  So, now it’s about acceptable levels federally and on the state level, of how many ppbs/ppms of aluminum are acceptable. Safety is political.

 

If cannabis is grown hydroponically, indoors, the potential of heavy metal accumulation is through the nutrients and water it is fed and not the substrate. If grown outdoors, hyperaccumulation is through the soil, the nutrients, water supply and the environment.

 

Pesticides (herbicides & fungicides), are the largest category of contaminants in cannabis, followed by solvents then mycotoxins contaminants. Heavy metals, as evidenced by the above mentioned study is certainly alarming. Even though ‘you never heard of anyone who suffered from any of these contaminants’ does not mean they do not exist or constitute a health/safety concern. 

 

The take away: Thailand was ranked 6th among the top 10 countries in pesticide usage, less than 10 years ago. It now ranks 3rd of 15 Asian nations in pesticide usage. Thailand continues to use glyphosates, chlopyrifos and paraquat as well as way too numerous pesticides to mention here. That should be the number one concern to all cannabis users here, in Thailand, be it expat or tourist. Though, these chemicals ‘might’ not be used in indoor CEA/hydroponic growing, be assured they are used in greenhouses and outdoors throughout the country.

 

There is no mandatory testing in Thailand of cannabis for anything: heavy metals, THC, pesticides, toxins, mold, etc.  This is the greater concern, part-and-parcel of heavy metal accumulation in cannabis. If cannabis is to remain a viable industry in Thailand (and I highly doubt that it will remain) it needs to be regulated at the health and safety level. Imagine if the consumer base demanded proof of terms like: “organic”, “30% THC”, and “pesticide free”? There would be a whole new market!

[wombat]

I've read some bullsh!t about weed before but this takes the cake.

[Hummin]

21 minutes ago, wombat said:

I've read some bullsh!t about weed before but this takes the cake.

Its all about knowing what you smoke from where. Same goes for food and drinks, if you do not care, why bother answering?

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, Irish star said:

Mostly the alcoholics , it’s like a competition with those morons 

I agree. Alcoholics are morons as well as druggies.🙏

[KhunLA]

Home grown is the way to go, with everything it seems.  Self sufficiency, and control what goes into your body.  TRUST NOBODY, especially corporations that care about nothing except the bottom line.

 

Better stop burning and using that fossil fuel/diesel then, as cadmium is released.  Just another reason to go solar & drive BEVs.

 

 

Careful what you eat, and where it comes from.  You like them imported fruits & veggies from CH, who energizes with coal.   What goes up, must come down, and into the soil ... YUMMY

 

[ignore it]

Whoa Nelly, 

This opens a whole new avenue for weed marketing 

[Pouatchee]

13 hours ago, 2baht said:

No wonder I'm gaining so much weight! 

 

or your battery lasts longer...

[Pouatchee]

10 hours ago, ignore it said:

Whoa Nelly, 

This opens a whole new avenue for weed marketing 

 

please, oh god please no... dont start with another name...

banana fritters, og kush... I just like the original... 'farmer's field pig poo'