Doctors in Alabama are warning parents about “gas station weed” and other dangerous products

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBMA) — Doctors in Alabama are stepping up their warnings about so-called gas station drugs. They can be addictive and, when taken in large doses, can cause users to go to the emergency room, which can have serious health consequences. Most of the time they are unregulated.

Compact 2020’s Jamelle Allen showed us a product nicknamed “Loud Gas” that resembles a marijuana blunt. “It smells like marijuana, has a similar feeling and is actually legal Delta 8,” Allen explained.

He also showed us edibles found in local schools. They were discovered in small plastic bags with no packaging indicating what they were or what was inside.

E-cigarettes continue to be marketed with all sorts of similar products, such as a colorful magic marker. “This is just more evidence of companies promoting these products to our youth,” Allen said.

At gas stations and convenience stores, you’ll find cartoon characters on products and some with names reminiscent of familiar candies with unusual colors and flavors.

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Even for adults, experts say this stuff can be dangerous because it contains unknown chemicals. “You’re really playing Russian roulette if you come in and buy one of these products,” warned Dr. Luke Engeriser, a mobile addiction specialist.

“The most important point for anyone dealing with these things at gas stations is that just because they are sold openly does not mean they are safe. There is no FDA oversight. We don’t know anything about how they are made or what is written on them.” “The label may not be accurate,” explained Dr. Engeriser.

Incorrectly labeled packaging can lead to overdoses and seizures. People may suffer withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the products, or they may become violent or psychotic, as found in a UAB study.

In one month, UAB psychiatrists reported seeing a dozen patients with complaints related to Delta 8, known as gas station weed. It is marketed as a legal alternative to marijuana. The minimum age to purchase in Alabama is now 21.

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“For reasons I don’t understand, the Alabama government has continued to allow Delta 8 to be legal,” Dr. Engeriser.

Experts say it’s crucial for parents to educate themselves and their children. “Our children are surrounded by this stuff. They’ll see it on social media and assume it’s safe for them,” Allen said.