NCJ Number
235971
Date Published
June 1978
Length
80 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings from a study conducted by the White House's Office of Drug Abuse Policy (ODAP) in 1977, which determined whether or not marijuana entering the United States was contaminated with paraquat, a toxic herbicide that was used to reduce marijuana crop production in Mexico; and the study also conducted a chemical analysis of the smoke from paraquat-treated marijuana in order to determine whether any paraquat was transferred intact in the smoke that could contribute to health risks in addition to those linked with marijuana use.
Abstract
One hundred samples of marijuana confiscated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the Southwest between January 12, 1976, and August, 21, 1977, were tested for the presence of paraquat contamination. Of the 100 samples analyzed, 61 entered the United States in the time frame of October 1976 to August 1977; 21 percent of these samples were contaminated with paraquat. This was determined through spectrophotometric analysis and confirmatory analyses performed using high-pressure liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thin-layer chromatography. Regarding the health threat of smoking paraquat-contaminated marijuana, the study determined that the toxic effects of paraquat in addition to the pulmonary (lung-related) hazards of chronic heavy marijuana use enhances the chances of severe pulmonary consequences. Additional studies are needed in order to clarify the possible additive or strengthening effects of the plant material and the contaminating herbicide in producing pulmonary pathology. The study's methodology is described in detail, along with the findings of studies selected from a review of relevant literature. 2 tables, 2 figures, 23 references, and appended descriptions of the analysis of confiscated marijuana samples for paraquat and the analysis of smoke condensate from paraquat-coated and paraquat-killed marijuana samples