Jimson Weed

Consumption of jimson weed has become a recreational pursuit of young people seeking a cheap hallucinogenic high. The plant grows wildly as a shrub in most parts of the United States and is called angel's trumpet, locoweed, and stink weed. Concentrated in the root of the jimson weed plant are scopolamine and atropine, both powerful anti-cholinergic compounds. When taken in sufficient quantities, these drugs can cause vivid hallucinations and out-of-body experiences. Creating a jimson weed tincture requires skill and patience; it is more than easy to overdose. Police blogs are replete with stories of jimson weed overdoses: car accidents, violent confrontations and altercations, and death. Each patient exhibited classic hallucinogen signs: dilated pupils, rapid heart beat (tachycardia), and hot, dry skin. The conscious patients exhibited altered mental states that included periods of agitation and disorganized speech. Some of the patients experienced additional anti-cholinergic effects of urinary retention. All of the patients recovered, although each experienced 3-4 days in the hospital.