Smoking Scorpions: Has The Trend Resurfaced?

The war on weed continues to rage—not only in the United States but throughout the entirety of the world.

While countries like Uraguay and Canada have decided to embrace the miraculous plant, others have chosen to remain staunch opposers of a so-called “drug” that hasn’t taken a single human life to date. As a result, people turn to drugs that, by law, are acceptable, but in reality, are much more deadly by nature. This includes (but not limited to) synthetic marijuana, prescription opioids and even whippets.

Another such drug that falls under that category, is something that, quite frankly, is only considered a drug in one sector of the planet and a predatory arachnid everywhere else.

Yes, we’re talking about scorpions, and yes, smoking scorpions is somehow a thing.

A Questionably Legal Alternative

For decades, smoking scorpions has been an odd trend prevalent in South Asia, specifically in Pakistan and India. Two years ago, we brought you the story of a 74-year-old scorpion addict who only managed to kick the venomous habit by switching over to opium.

A couple years later, it appears that the longstanding trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

While stats are difficult to come by, it appears the practice may still be growing in Pakistan, amongst other South Asian countries. Since there are no laws pertaining to the consumption of scorpion for pleasure, it remains one of the more popular forms of getting high in Pakistan.

There are several different ways to get high off of a scorpion’s venom. The most obvious and, frankly, primitive ways of getting your fix is to simply get yourself stung by a scorpion. There are even some shops in India that will provide you with a “pleasure sting” for a small fee.

Alternatively, “venom-heads” are known to burn scorpions alive over an open flame and simply inhale the rising smoke to get their fix.

Those who prefer the actual act of smoking typically choose the third option. Users will kill a scorpion or find one that’s already dead. After letting the insect dry out in the sun, they crush it into a fine powder and roll it into a cigarette. It is typically combined with tobacco, hash or in some cases, even opium.

A scorpion spliff, if you will.

Regardless of the method, the venom is certain to give its user an intense, euphoric high—albeit, with some less-than-desirable initial affects. Users claim they feel an excruciating pain for as long as six-hours, a result of the body adjusting to the foreign venom.

Once the pain subsides, however, the user truly gets to see the fruits of their scorpion-induced labor.

The high has been described in a variety of different ways, although almost all agree it is a pleasurable one. Some describe it as a psychedelic or hallucinogenic high, while others compare it to an intense weed high. Either way, the user maintains their mindstate for close to 10 hours.

Smoking Scorpions: Has The Trend Resurfaced?

Although the strange practice cropped up decades ago, it appears the act has resurfaced, although some would argue it never left in the first place. Despite its legality, there are, unsurprisingly, a plethora of adverse side-effects linked to consuming the venom.

According to Dr. Azaz Jamal, not only can the venom be extremely addicting, it can lead to both short- and long-term memory loss, appetite disorders, sleeping disorders and in some rare cases, throw users into a chronic state of delusion.

Again, while there’s not much research to provide specific data due to the obscurity of the drug, smoking scorpions remains a dangerous practice in certain parts of the world. Perhaps, if there wasn’t such a negative connotation when it comes to cannabis, this strange act wouldn’t exist in the first place. Although, there’s no real way of proving such a point.

Regardless, our advice for our readers remains simple: just stick to the weed.