FDA issues warning after synthetic marijuana tainted with rat poison sickens hundreds

(USA Today, July 20) A bad batch of synthetic marijuana – sold under brand names like Spice, K2 and AK 47 – is behind a rash of uncontrolled bleeding incidents in Washington, D.C.

Local emergency officials say that the drug was involved in over 200 cases of severe bleeding, vomiting and people collapsing during the course of less than seven days.

"We’re joining together to send a strong warning to anyone who may use synthetic marijuana products that these products can be especially dangerous as a result of the seemingly deliberate use of brodifacoum [rat poison] in these illegal products," a statement from the Food and Drug Administration, released Thursday, said. Read more.

Read more about synthetic marijuana.