A powerful, unregulated synthetic marijuana called “Tiburón” (Spanish for “shark”) has recently emerged in Honduras, posing severe risks to public health.
Produced and sold by the notorious MS-13 street gang, this altered cannabis strain is designed to be even more addictive than regular marijuana.
But its exact contents and effects remain a mystery.
Key Facts:
- Tiburón is sold exclusively by MS-13, who aim to monopolize the new product line.
- It is touted as more addictive than cocaine, but its chemical additives are completely unknown.
- MS-13 actively markets Tiburón to “the youngest kids to really old people” with no dosage or safety information.
- Experts warn of potential public health crises from untested synthetic additives. Psychotic symptoms are already being reported.
- Parallels exist to previous synthetic cannabinoid products linked to bleeds, organ failure, seizures, and death when new replacement chemicals were used.
What is Tiburón/Krispy Marijuana?
Tiburón, also known as “Krispy,” is a form of synthetic cannabis produced and sold exclusively by MS-13 gang members in Honduras.
Its origins trace back to before the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns.
Seeking higher profits, MS-13 leveraged its criminal networks to import an unknown chemical additive.
By spraying this onto natural marijuana buds, they aimed to create a more potent, addictive product.
The result was Tiburón – sold in plastic packages labeled with brand names like “Krispy” or “Tiburón.”
Gang members tout it as nearly 4x more addictive than even cocaine. Its monopoly distribution provides major cash flows for MS-13 operations.
However, Tiburón is unregulated, with contents entirely unknown to buyers.
Suggested additives range from cocaine to gasoline, but gang members remain secretive.
This heightens the risks of major side effects or overdose.
Dangers and Unknown Health Effects of Tiburon Weed
While packaged to look indistinguishable from legal cannabis, Tiburón is a synthetic product with contents actively hidden from consumers.
The MS-13 chemists manipulating natural marijuana have no oversight, quality standards, or concern for safety.
Potentially toxic chemicals or additives raise the stakes beyond regular marijuana risks.
However, Tiburón is deceptively marketed to “the youngest kids to really old people” with no warning labels or dosage info.
Its high profitability also leads to aggressive sales tactics.
Experts worry devastating public health impacts could emerge once Tiburón becomes widespread.
Chronic use may produce debilitating addiction similar to crack or meth.
Acute toxicity leading to hospitalization or death is another threat.
Psychotic symptoms have already been reported, but long-term effects remain unknown.
The fact that MS-13 targets children and elderly consumers most vulnerable to overdose is especially troubling.
Parallels to the Synthetic Cannabinoid (K2 & Spice) Crisis
Tiburón follows a dangerous pattern seen with underground synthetic cannabinoids like K2 and Spice.
Illicit labs use cheap, unknown compounds to mimic marijuana on the brain’s receptors.
When governments banned earlier synthetics, each new formula became more experimental and unpredictable.
Some contained derivatives 100x stronger than THC.
This resulted in surges of hospitalizations with severe bleeding, kidney failure, cardiac issues, seizures, and death.
While Tiburón’s contents differ, its lack of oversight or dosing standards is comparable.
MS-13 has no incentive beyond profit to ensure safety.
Exposing regular marijuana users to unknown synthetic additives creates a similar public health crisis scenario.
High Potency Cannabis: Links to Addiction, Mental Health Disorders
According to studies, the advent of high potency marijuana has correlated with an increase in cannabis use disorder (CUD), or addiction.
A 2020 Lancet Psychiatry analysis found that using cannabis with THC levels above 10% leads to a 4 times greater risk of CUD compared to weaker strains.
In the U.S., around 30% of marijuana users have a diagnosis of CUD.
According to the UN, the percentage of cannabis users worldwide seeking treatment for addiction issues has also risen over the past 20 years as potency climbed.
Additionally, higher THC intake appears tied to greater incidence of psychosis, depression, and anxiety disorders.
Per the Lancet report, rising potency aligned with growing cases of cannabis-associated psychosis.
While causation is not proven, heavy use of potent marijuana may trigger latent psychosis or exacerbate existing mental health conditions.
There are indications it can induce anxiety disorders as well.
The trend toward extract consumption also intensifies risks.
Concentrates often exceed 50-90% THC, compared to 5-25% in flower.
This provides no room for error in dosing.
Just a small amount of wax or oil equals a large dose of THC.
This raises odds of toxicity, panic attacks, and short-term psychotic reactions in new users.
Call for Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis
The rise of Tiburón demonstrates the harms of prohibition.
In a legal market, transparency and product testing are required.
Standards also prohibit targeting underage users with dangerous substances.
Instead, shady chemists can act with impunity, while gangs establish violent monopolies over lucrative black market marijuana distribution.
The most vulnerable communities bear the brunt of risks.
Full federal cannabis legalization would eliminate incentives driving creation of untested synthetic marijuana.
Regulation could also reduce stigma around seeking treatment for those affected.
Until reforms are enacted, individuals should abstain from synthetic cannabinoids.
Reported issues should be immediately treated by medical professionals.
Reducing demand by choosing regulated, lower potency natural cannabis may also help curb gang profits and incentives for pushing novel risky synthetics like Tiburón.
