Contaminants in the Illegal European Supply Cannabis - avaay - Medizinalcannabis von höchster Qualität

To explore this issue, we conducted extensive tests to determine which non-cannabinoid compounds are present in street cannabis. Through a call on the platform “Reddit”, we were able to recruit enough volunteers willing to submit their black-market cannabis for analysis. The cannabis was sent to our research team using a sealed test kit, complete with location information and a timestamp.

Only one in five samples classified as “clean”

After eight months of work and with the fantastic support of over 200 volunteers, the submitted samples were tested for biological components, pesticides, and other drugs.* And the results were shocking: Out of more than 300 samples tested, only around 20 percent were classified as safe and clean products. The majority of the remaining 80 percent contained traces of substances such as human and animal feces, Covid-19, and influenza viruses. We also found traces of cocaine, ketamine, crystal meth, MDMA, and even compounds from hairspray, as well as traces of toxic pesticides that are classified as illegal in Europe.

Worst test results in Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich

How the individual cities performed in the study is shown in the following overview, listed in descending order from most to least contaminated samples from 30 German cities and 20 other European metropolises.

*Please see below for detailed information on the analysis methodology.

Traces of cocaine: 47%

Traces of hairspray: 32%

Traces of feces: 65%

Traces of hazardous pesticides: 71%

Traces of bacteria and viruses: 74%

* Of all samples taken, including pesticides and biomarkers not listed in the published data.

International Results

The final ranking, from highest to lowest, reveals the city with the most contaminats in the local illegal cannabies market. Each individual column is sortable and you can search for a city, with the full methodology of how each test was evaluated located at the bottom of the page.

Note: To see the tables in full, you should view the page on your desktop computer or hold your phone in landscape format.

#	City	Number of tests	Paclobutrazol	Chlorfenapyr	Trifloxystrobin	Cocaine	MDMA	Ketamine	Cristal Meth	Hair Spray	Pymetrozine	Human Feces	E Coli	Covid 19	Rhinovirus	Influenza	Clean Samples
1	Berlin	10	x	x	x	x	x	x		x		x	x		x	x	3
2	Hamburg	10		x	x	x				x		x		x	x		2
3	Munich	10			x	x		x		x	x	x		x		x	5
4	Cologne	10	x			x						x	x			x	4
5	Frankfurt am Main	10		x	x		x			x			x		x		3
6	Stuttgart	10	x	x		x		x				x		x	x		2
7	Dusseldorf	10		x	x	x	x	x		x						x	3
8	Leipzig	10				x			x		x		x				4
9	Dortmund	5	x			x						x	x				2
10	Essen	5		x						x		x	x			x	3
11	Bremen	5			x	x									x	x	1
12	Dresden	5	x	x						x			x	x			1
13	Hanover	5		x		x				x		x				x	3
14	Nuremberg	5			x	x			x			x	x		x	x	2
15	Duisburg	3	x							x				x	x		1
16	Bochum	3	x			x					x		x				1
17	Wuppertal	3			x					x		x			x	x	0
18	Bielefeld	3														x	1
19	Bonn	3	x			x				x		x				x	1
20	Münster	3		x						x			x				2
21	Mannheim	3	x							x		x	x				0
22	Karlsruhe	3		x		x				x		x					0
23	Augsburg	2										x		x			0
24	Wiesbaden	2													x	x	0
25	Mönchengladbach	2		x								x	x				1
26	Gelsenkirchen	2	x		x			x					x			x	0
27	Aachen	2										x		x			1
28	Braunschweig	2										x					1
29	Chemnitz	2				x		x	x	x	x	x			x		0
30	Mainz	2								x			x				1
31	London	10	x	x	x	x	x	x		x	x	x	x			x	4
32	Madrid	10	x			x		x		x		x		x		x	3
33	Lisbon	5				x	x			x		x			x	x	1
34	Barcelona	5	x		x	x				x		x	x	x		x	2
35	Paris	10	x	x	x	x				x	x	x					0
36	Manchester	5	x			x		x		x		x		x			2
37	Brussels	5			x	x				x		x	x			x	0
38	Viena	5	x	x	x	x	x			x		x			x		2
39	Zurich	5				x		x				x				x	2
40	Geneva	5			x			x		x		x		x		x	3

Do you have questions about our study or are you interested in a report or an interview? Then please contact us at any time:

Jennifer Plankenbühler

Lead Medical PR | Press Officer

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +49 (0)173 37 62 845

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METHODOLOGY

The testing kit included one test tube with a swab for conducting High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, four separate colorimetric tests for the listed drugs, a fecal indicator bacteria test, three PCR tests for the indicated bacteria, a pair of sterile gloves, and a mask.

Pesticides

Compound: Paclubtrazol

Testing Method: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with mixed-mode column

Explanation: Paclobutrazol ist ein Pflanzenwachstumshemmer und triazolbasiertes Fungizid. Es hemmt die Gibberellin-Biosynthese, was zu kürzeren Internodien und kompakterem Pflanzenwachstum führt.

Legality: Illegal for use on consumable crops in the EU.

Medical Consequences: Potential liver toxicity and reproductive effects in humans.

Compound: Chlorfenapyr

Testing Method: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection

Explanation: Chlorfenapyr is a pesticide used to control a variety of pests. It works by disrupting the production of ATP in the mitochondria, leading to cell death.

Legality: Banned for use on food crops in the EU.

Medical Consequences: Can cause neurological and developmental issues in humans.

Compound: Trifloxystrobin

Testing Method: Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with QuEChERS method

Explanation: Trifloxystrobin is a broad-spectrum fungicide used for foliar application. It inhibits mitochondrial respiration in fungi, preventing energy production and leading to cell death.

Legality: Approved for use with restrictions in the EU.

Medical Consequences: Can cause skin and eye irritation; potential long-term effects on liver and kidneys.

Drugs

Substance: Cocaine

How to Test (in a Bag): Colorimetric test

Effects if Smoked: Intense euphoria, increased heart rate, risk of severe lung damage

Legality (Germany): Illegal (Schedule I drug)

Substance: MDMA

How to Test (in a Bag): Colorimetric test

Effects if Smoked: Rarely smoked; can cause severe throat and lung irritation, potential for toxicity

Legality (Germany): Illegal (Schedule I drug)

Substance: Ketamine

How to Test (in a Bag): Colorimetric test

Effects if Smoked: Hallucinations, dissociation, respiratory issues

Legality (Germany): Legal for medical use only; otherwise illegal

Substance: Crystal Meth

How to Test (in a Bag): Colorimetric test

Effects if Smoked: Intense euphoria, increased energy, severe lung damage, risk of addiction

Legality (Germany): Illegal (Schedule I drug)

Chemicals

Substance: Hair Spray

How to Test (in a Bag): High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with mixed-mode column

Effects if Smoked: Toxic fumes can cause dizziness, headaches, respiratory issues

Legality (Germany): Legal for intended use; misuse can lead to legal consequences

Compound: Pymetrozine

Testing Method: QuEChERS method with adjustments in pH and analyzed by LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry)

Explanation: Pymetrozine is a pyridine azomethine insecticide used to control homopteran insects (aphids and whiteflies) by affecting their feeding behavior. It does not have a knockdown effect but disrupts the feeding of pests.

Legality: Pymetrozine has been banned in the EU due to concerns about its necessity and potential risks, despite being previously authorized under strictly controlled conditions

Medical Consequences: Ingesting produce with Pymetrozine residues can pose health hazards, including potential toxic effects on humans. However, specific medical consequences would depend on the level of exposure and individual sensitivity.

Bio, Bacteria & Viruses

Bio Matter: Human Feces

Test Used to Detect: Fecal indicator bacteria test (e.g., Enterococcus or E. coli)

Consequences of Consuming: Gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and potential exposure to pathogens like Hepatitis A, Norovirus, and parasites

Bio Matter: E. coli

Test Used to Detect: PCR test

Consequences of Consuming: Severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting, and in severe cases, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)

Bio Matter: COVID-19

Test Used to Detect: RT-PCR

Consequences of Consuming: Respiratory illness ranging from mild symptoms (fever, cough) to severe conditions (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome)

Bio Matter: Rhinovirus

Test Used to Detect: PCR

Consequences of Consuming: Common cold symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, and congestion

Bio Matter: Influenza

Test Used to Detect: RT-PCR

Consequences of Consuming: Flu symptoms including fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, and in severe cases, pneumonia and other complications

Study

International Results

Jennifer Plankenbühler

Safe cannabis from specialist stores?

METHODOLOGY

Pesticides

Drugs

Chemicals

Bio, Bacteria & Viruses