ITS WORSE THAN WEED BUT LEGAL

Devil’s trumpet, that’s the name some people call this plant, some also call it Indian thorn apple. Its scientific name is Datura metel. In my neighbourhood we call it gegemu. This plant is highly intoxicating. It grows freely especially in neighbourhoods with bad drainage system.

Datura is found in Asia, Africa, south and Central America and also in the Caribbean. Many cultures attach this plant to worship of deity. In northern India, smoking this plant is considered pleasurable but eating or drinking its extract is considered dangerous. Yogis and Sadhus smoke this plant in combination with weed, imagine. In the Philippines, the leaves are boiled to make an inebriating soup to be eaten in a communal circle, community highness. In Africa, the seeds are added to locally brewed beer; it is also used to commit crime by poisoning the victim.

Well enough stories, in my psychiatric posting gegemu was tagged “deadly”. To tell you how dangerous it is, when this plant in soaked in a cup and that cup is rinsed off with only water, and then used to take a drink, the person will still experience grave symptoms. Goats or their relatives don’t eat this plant, infact, it has no pest, no insect or consumer. It is not even used on large animals like horses or buffaloes. Please weed this plant away if in your neighbourhood and discard it. Burning could get your community high so don’t do that please.