70 Cases of Uncontrolled Bleeding From Synthetic Marijuana Reported

70 cases of uncontrolled bleeding from synthetic marijuana/spice/K2 were reported between March 7 and April 2.

The bleeding led to 60 hospitalizations and two deaths.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is warning about the cases which all involve people in Illinois and are currently being investigated by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The bleeding is due to the use of synthetic marijuana containing brodifacoum.

Brodifacoum is an off-white, odorless powder poison. It was first introduced in 1975 to eliminate rodents that had become resistant to existing poisons. It is one of the most widely used pesticides around the world.

Synthetic marijuana is either sprayed on dried, shredded plant material to be smoked or sold as liquids to be vaporized and inhaled. Also known as fake weed, it is sold for recreational drug use under brand names such as K2, Spice, Black Mamba, Bombay Blue, Genie, Zohai and others.

There are currently no known cases in Michigan, but with Illinois being a neighboring state there is cause for caution and concern.