Persons who consume marijuana edibles and drink alcohol are being cautioned by the police.

 “That unique combination of feeling a little too drunk and a little too high can be overwhelming for some. Feeling ‘crossfaded’. is a combination of the effects of alcohol and how the body absorbs cannabis., Inspector Wayne Stanley of the Special Investigations  Unit (SIU) said at the weekly police briefing on Wednesday morning.

 “Persons smoking marijuana and consuming marijuana edibles after drinking alcohol have been found to exhibit nausea and vomiting, which is the body’s number one defence mechanism against alcohol poisoning,

“In some cases, the user finds it difficult to concentrate and remember things, while in extreme cases, the user is at risk of “greening out”, which involves panicking, vomiting and experiencing heightened performance impairments.

“Even though getting crossfaded is not life-threatening, please know your limits.

  “If you feel too high, talk to a friend you can trust, find a safe place to sit down and definitely drink some water. I repeat if you feel you too high, talk to a friend you can trust about your situation, find a safe place to sit and rest and drink lots of water,” he said.

“Abuse of these substances has a strong negative effect on the brain and body, impairing judgement and concentration and puts the user at great risk of Sexual Assault, Robberies, Possible Kidnapping and Road Fatalities.

“This Carnival please do not share drinks, do not take drinks from strangers and open all cans and bottles yourself. Partygoers should be mindful of involuntary induced illicit drugs, one such common drug is Rohypnol, also referred to as “Roofies” or the “Date Rape Drug” which is a sedative that is often given to unsuspecting victims before they are assaulted, “ Inspector Stanley warned.

“These tiny pills are tasteless, odourless and can be dissolved undetected in liquid. Signs that you have been drugged include taking two (2) sips of a drink which makes you feel as if you had six (6) drinks, loss of muscle control, difficulty communicating with others and visual disturbances,” he said.

“As a preventative measure individuals can purchase “test my drink strips” online.

These test strips can be used to determine if your drink has been drugged.

“These test strips are designed to detect the possible presence of the illicit date rape drugs which are slipped into an unsuspecting victim’s drink,” Inspector Stanley said.