Chemical coating on pressed ganja' poses high health risk to consumers

Hyderabad: Ganja suppliers may not be aware that the drug they supply are processed with a deadly chemical coating that increases the risk to the health of consumers.

A few months ago, some ganja suppliers started to make ‘pressed ganja’ by soaking dried leaves, stems and flowers of cannabis plants in diluted chloral hydrate and then packing in a thick plastic sachet.

Similarly hash oil was added with chloral hydrate.

The ‘pressed ganja’ is very dangerous and demand is high as chloral hydrate gives an extra kick. "There are many side effects of this chemical. If not mixed in the correct proportion, it can take one’s life, said Vallabh Trivedi, a former ganja cultivator and supplier.