Australian Nurses Cannabis Support & Information Network

28/08/2026

I’m sorry, but I have questions…

A urine screen that reacts to cannabinoids cannot tell the vet, “this dog ate a THC gummy (pastille).”

It certainly cannot establish that the THC originally came from a gummy that had passed through a human gastrointestinal tract. At most, a positive screening result provides evidence consistent with cannabinoid exposure and even that requires qualification because routine human urine cannabinoid immunoassays have significant limitations when used in dogs.

Cornell and the veterinary toxicology literature specifically caution about these limitations.

Now, a dog becoming intoxicated after eating human faeces from someone who has consumed THC is actually biologically plausible and, interestingly, it has been documented in the veterinary literature.

An Australian case series described 15 dogs in Melbourne with suspected ma*****na toxicosis following ingestion of human faeces. Ingestion was either witnessed or faecal material was identified in vomit, and one of the reported exposure locations was actually a beach.

So that part is entirely plausible.

But that is not the same as:

human eats gummy → gummy survives digestion → dog eats poo containing “gummies” → urine test proves it.

A consumed gummy would ordinarily be expected to have been substantially digested.

Oral THC is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and undergoes extensive metabolism, with cannabinoids and metabolites subsequently excreted including via the faecal route.

So if faecal ingestion really was the source, exposure to cannabinoid compounds in the faecal material is entirely plausible.

What the dog’s urine test cannot do is retrospectively identify the human’s original dosage form as a “gummy”. 😳

It gets even more interesting diagnostically.

Dogs metabolise cannabinoids differently from humans.

A 2021 study analysed blood and urine from dogs with suspected or confirmed cannabis intoxication using mass spectrometry. 20 of 21 canine urine samples tested negative using an over-the-counter human urine cannabinoid screen, despite cannabinoids being analytically demonstrated.

The authors concluded that the human urine test used in the study was not useful for confirming ma*****na exposure in dogs, largely because of the low concentrations of THC-COOH found in canine urine.

And new 2026 research adds another complication.

Researchers investigating cannabinoid enzyme immunoassays in canine urine found that presumptive positive results were not necessarily corroborated by confirmatory GC-MS testing for THC-COOH. Their findings identified cannabinoid-related compounds capable of immunoassay cross-reactivity and further highlight the limitations of applying these screening tests to dogs.

So the scientifically defensible version of this story would be 👇

The dog developed clinical signs consistent with cannabis intoxication after apparently consuming human faeces, and a urine screening test reportedly returned a cannabinoid-positive result. Human faecal exposure is a documented potential route of cannabis intoxication in dogs. However, that urine result cannot establish that the original source was a “gummy”, and human cannabinoid urine screening tests have important limitations when used in dogs.

That is rather different from Nine’s magnificent forensic reconstruction of “he had eaten human poo with gummies in it.” 🤦‍♀️

And one other part of the reported timeline raises another question.

The article states that the vet gave him “something to vomit everything out”, while also describing the dog as “leaning and swaying” and saying he “wasn’t moving”.

Current veterinary guidance specifically cautions against inducing vomiting in dogs that are already showing clinical signs of THC intoxication because of the risk of aspiration. Merck’s current guidance states that decontamination may be considered within one hour of THC ingestion in clinically normal patients only.

Obviously, we don’t have the clinical records and don’t know the dog’s neurological status at the precise time emesis was induced, so I’m certainly not going to second-guess the treating veterinarian based on a media report.

But the chronology as it has been reported is worth questioning.

Cannabis intoxication from human faeces? Plausible and documented.

A urine screen proving there were THC gummies in that faeces? That’s a very different claim.

References / further reading

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Cannabis (THC) intoxication in dogs.
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/Cannabis-THC-intoxication-in-dogs

Lauinger CA, Peacock R. Ma*****na toxicosis in dogs in Melbourne, Australia, following suspected ingestion of human faeces: 15 cases (2011–2020). Australian Veterinary Journal. 2022;100(3):90–97.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34786688/

Fitzgerald AH, Zhang Y, Fritz S, et al. Detecting and quantifying ma*****na metabolites in serum and urine of 19 dogs affected by ma*****na toxicity. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 2021;33(5):1002–1007.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34247555/

Full text:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8366259/

Pickard C, Buchweitz JP, Lehner AF. Characterization of unusual immunoassay cross-reactive cannabinoid metabolites in canine urine via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods. Published online 17 June 2026.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42080358/

Merck Veterinary Manual. Toxicosis in Dogs and Cats From Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Full review February 2026.
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/toxicoses-from-human-recreational-drugs/toxicosis-in-dogs-and-cats-from-tetrahydrocannabinol-thc

Merck Veterinary Manual. Overview of Toxicoses in Animals From Human Recreational Drugs.
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/toxicoses-from-human-recreational-drugs/overview-of-toxicoses-in-animals-from-human-recreational-drugs

Article being discussed:
Nine. Indy Clinton’s dog hospitalised after eating shock beach find laced with cannabis. 24 August 2026.

https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/aussie-influencer-indy-clinton-dog-hospitalised-after-eating-shock-substance-beach-cannabis-gummy-20260824-p60qz0.html

The star was left speechless but can laugh about it now.

23/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14qJAEu7RF3/?

🕶Queenslanders!🌿

✍Two Queensland Parliamentary E-Petitions, with the first closing this Tuesday, 25th August, so please sign if you have not already done so! Thank you.

🛻4561-26 Reform Queensland Drug Driving Laws for Medically Prescribed THC Patients https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/Petition-Details/4561-26

🌱4628-26 Legislate the use of recreational cannabis in Queensland
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/petition-details/4628-26

18/07/2026

Mr Hynes has stopped taking his medicinal cannabis for the past few months over fears he could be criminalised and lose his licence as his prescribed medicine returns a positive roadside drug test.

“It says on the bottle, if you’re affected, don’t drive, and so I take it the night before, feel a bit affected and tired, but it wears off in a couple of hours,” he said.

“It has zero effect on my ability to drive or cognitive function [the next day] … but the consequences of losing my licence mean I can’t take my kids to school and do what I need to do as a father.”

Mr Hynes found it incredibly upsetting that he’s unable to take the medication that’s proven to work for him, all because it’s treated differently under the law.

“I have been trusted to drive warships and with national security,” he said.

“We’re not blazing [up] and driving cars around … it’s not this demon drug that people make it out to be.”

https://region.com.au/the-push-to-stop-treating-medicinal-cannabis-like-a-demon-drug-on-canberras-roads/981984/?

Josh Hynes spent eight-and-a-half years serving his country as a naval officer before being medically discharged for physical and mental…

14/07/2026

I’ve just lodged my submission. Patient or clinician or just someone who cares please lodge yours. QLD is doubling down and it’s important to speak up!!

If you’ve been meaning to have your say on Queensland’s proposed changes to dangerous driving laws including the impact of current THC driving laws on patients, there’s still time.

Submissions close tomorrow at 12 noon.

It is not a complicated process.

You can:

* Write directly into a free text box, or
* Upload a document if you’ve prepared one.

It took far less time than I expected. Please do not feel you cannot contribute, you can and your experience matters just as your opinion on this does!

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, patient, carer or simply someone with an interest in road safety and evidence-based legislation, this is an opportunity to respectfully share your perspective.

Parliamentary committees consider submissions from the community when examining proposed legislation, so every considered submission contributes to the discussion.

The submission process is quick and straightforward.

Deadline: 12:00 pm tomorrow.

If you’ve been thinking about making a submission, now is the time.

Submission portal: 👇

The contact details you provide in this section are for committee secretariat purposes. Only your name and your submission may appear on the website. Please complete the privacy request section below if you would like either of these kept confidential.

29/03/2026

29/03/2026

A few years ago, this documentary was released, "The truth about medical ma*****na - A life of its own" telling stories that many people in Australia still don’t fully see or understand. Lucy Haslam and Helen Kapalos the brains behind it. Born out of heartbreak.

Stories of patients.
Stories of families.
Stories of people trying to live with illness, pain, trauma, epilepsy, cancer, and chronic conditions and the stigma, barriers and fear that often come with medicinal cannabis treatment.

This topic is incredibly close to my heart, not just professionally, but personally and through the many patients and families I have walked alongside over the years.

Nothing in this space has ever been easy.
Access hasn’t been easy.
Education hasn’t been easy.
Changing laws hasn’t been easy.
Changing minds definitely hasn’t been easy.

But the stories matter.
The patients matter.
The families matter.

We are now working on a second documentary called In Plain Sight, which will continue telling these stories, the stories that are happening every day, often quietly, often misunderstood, and often invisible to the wider community.

And if this issue matters to you the patients, healthcare workers, families, advocates then please keep an eye out for In Plain Sight.

Some of the most important stories in healthcare are not happening in hospitals or parliament houses. They are happening quietly, in people’s homes, in their pain, in their sleep, in their trauma, in their recovery.

Often, they are happening in plain sight.
If you have some time, please watch the original documentary below. You will be blown away:

A Life of Its Own is a feature documentary directed and produced by Helen Kapalos which aims to provide clarity and understanding of one of Australia's most ...

17/01/2026

Introduction Worldwide, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is threatening the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapy, leading to a potential increase in

17/01/2026

High-C*D Extract (C*D-X) Downregulates Cytokine Storm Systemically and Locally in Inflamed Lungs.

Abstract
Cytokine storm refers to the dysregulated production of inflammatory mediators leading to hyperinflammation. They are often detrimental, and worsen the severity of COVID-19 and other infectious or inflammatory diseases.

Cannabinoids are known to have anti-inflammatory effects but their possible therapeutic value on cytokine storms has not been fully elucidated. In vivo and ex vivo studies were carried out to investigate the effects of high-THC and high-C*D extracts on cytokine production in immune cells. Significant differences between the extracts were observed. Subsequent experiments focusing on a specific high C*D extract (C*D-X) showed significant reductions in pro-inflammatory cytokines in human-derived PBMCs, neutrophils and T cells. In vivo mouse studies, using a systemically inflamed mouse model, showed reductions in pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-1β and a concurrent increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in response to C*D-X extract treatment.

Lung inflammation, as in severe COVID-19 disease, is characterized by increased T-cell homing to the lungs. Our investigation revealed that C*D-X extract impaired T-cell migration induced by the chemoattractant SDF1. In addition, the phosphorylation levels of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling proteins Lck and Zap70 were significantly reduced, demonstrating an inhibitory effect on the early events downstream to TCR activation. In a lung inflamed mouse model, we observed a reduction in leukocytes including neutrophil migration to the lungs and decreased levels of IL-1β, MCP-1, IL-6 and TNFα, in response to the administration of the high-C*D extract.

The results presented in this work offer that certain high-C*D extract has a high potential in the management of pathological conditions, in which the secretion of cytokines is dysregulated, as it is in severe COVID-19 disease or other infectious or inflammatory diseases.

Cytokine storm refers to the dysregulated production of inflammatory mediators leading to hyperinflammation. They are often detrimental, and worsen the severity of COVID-19 and other infectious or inflammatory diseases. Cannabinoids are known to have anti-inflammatory effects but their possible ther...