Hazardous Substances
Wild Dagga (Leonotis leonurus)
Street names: Lion's tail, Wild dagga, Leonotis
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Mild calming smoke — placebo-adjacent; sold as 'legal cannabis alternative'
⚠Key risks
- LOW harm itself
- The 'cannabis alternative' marketing invites expectation mismatch
- Often blended with damiana/kanna — and occasionally sprayed synthetics
- Smoked plant matter harms lungs regardless of the herb
✚Overdose signs
- None documented
Category comparison — Hazardous Substances
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Dagga (Leonotis leonurus) | Legal ornamental/ethylnobotanical | LOW harm itself; The 'cannabis alternative' marketing invites expectation mismatch | $5–$15 per ounce |
| Potassium Cyanide (KCN) | Not a drug — regulated toxic chemical | Lethal dose ~200–300 mg — death within minutes to an hour; No antidote available outside hospital; hydrogen cyanide gas from acid contact | N/A — sometimes sold fraudulently as 'peaceful exit' scams |
| Air Duster (Computer Duster / Canned Air) | Household product — not a drug; no age restriction on purchase | SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH — the most deadly inhalant: difluoroethane sensitizes the heart to adrenaline; a sudden fright, chase, or exertion triggers fatal cardiac arrest. First-time users die; Frostbite to lungs and airway from direct spray | $3–$8 per can at any electronics/office store |
| Gasoline / Petrol Huffing | Not a drug — fuel product | Extremely toxic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene); Sudden sniffing death — cardiac arrest | Effectively free — siphoned fuel |
| Glue / Solvent Sniffing | Not drugs — adhesives and solvents | The CLASSIC youth inhalant — peak use age 14–15; Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrest | $1–$5 per tube/can — pocket money prices |
| Refrigerant / Freon Huffing | Not a drug — HVAC refrigerant | EXTREMELY dangerous — refrigerant gases (difluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane) cause sudden cardiac death at high rates; Frostbite to airways | Stolen/siphoned — no price, high death cost |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Wild Dagga (Leonotis leonurus) look like?
Orange flower clusters dried and smoked; South African traditional ('wild dagga' = wild cannabis, but no cannabinoids)
What are the signs of a Wild Dagga (Leonotis leonurus) overdose?
None documented Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
LOW harm itself Dependence can develop with regular use.