# Weaponizing Cocaine **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 1, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990 "2003-09-01T17:28:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Osakadave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f07891/32.png) [@Osakadave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osakadave)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/1 "2003-09-01T17:28:06Z")
Moderators: I dont think this question is objectionable, as it should be a simple yes/no and easy or difficult answer. If it is, please lock it post haste. Is it theoretically possible to use cocaine, heroin, or other drugs as the base for a chemical weapon? How difficult would it be? Please, please, PLEASE do NOT post anything practical (ie recipes) that might get this closed. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/2 "2003-09-01T17:59:26Z")
The Russians have [aerosolized opiates](http://www.guardian.co.uk/chechnya/Story/0,2763,822228,00.html). ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/3 "2003-09-01T17:59:26Z")
Amphetamines have been used to extend soldiers’ and pilots’ endurance. That’s probably not what you want to induce in your foe’s troops. And just plain trying to administer an overdose to physically incapacitate them could likely be more easily accomplished with existing nerve toxins. Lobbing hallucinogens their way might affect them, but then you’ve got the problem of fighting unpredictable behavior. I think there might be other problems, with your own troops. You’d probaly want to monitor the sleep habits of your speed gun crews. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/4 "2003-09-01T18:09:18Z")
I _did_ edit that, (before the preview came up.) The Russians _may_ have aerosolized opiates. Some sort of sedative, anyway. See also [BZ](http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/byname/cbrne---incapacitating-agents-3-quinuclidinyl-benzilate.htm) gas, developed by the US. It’s an anticholinergic with a pharmacological action that is similar to belladonna or datura. The Iraqis used VX, which is a variation on the theme. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/5 "2003-09-01T18:10:32Z")
Most of the plant alkaloids are produced by elaborate biochemical pathways. Getting those pathways to function in a biowarfare setting is likely to be complex. However, there’s an enzyme (monooxygenase) in psilocybin mushrooms that might do interesting things if an evildoer cloned it into, say, gut bacteria. Still, whoever tried such a thing would have to be both highly skilled, and lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/6 "2003-09-01T21:54:51Z")
I seem to recall that in the early days of the development of LSD, the Army was interested in using it as a battlefield weapon. (Like that’s really out of character for _any_ military, being curious about using a new invention as a weapon) ---
**Author:** ![hoboonmoto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hoboonmoto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hoboonmoto)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/7 "2003-09-02T00:59:51Z")
If I remember correctly, cocaine can be made explosive. You need to check the anarchist cookbook (circa 2001, I think) Something about putting it in a camera. :smack: - better than ruining your heart with it? \* ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/8 "2003-09-02T03:02:02Z")
Here is an example: > [@](#): > > The Pentagon team advocates more research into the weapons > potential of convulsants (which provoke seizures) and “club drugs”, the generally illegal substances used by some at “rave” and dance clubs. Among those in the military spotlight are ketamine (“Special K”), GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutrate, “liquid ecstasy”), and rohypnol (“Roofies”). From [The Sunshine Project](http://www.sunshine-project.org/publications/pr/pr010702.html). So yes, it does appear that is possible to weaponize recreational drugs. People are trying at least. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/9 "2003-09-02T05:50:51Z")
Club drugs? I’m sure weaponized MDMA would make for some interesting battlefield situations. _New, from Pfizer! Christmas Truce in Bomb Form!_ ---
**Author:** ![Planet\_of\_the\_Shapes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Planet\_of\_the\_Shapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Planet_of_the_Shapes)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/10 "2003-09-02T13:02:38Z")
😃 Thats brilliant… Actually, thinking about it - it could work. Using weaponised MDMA on enemy soldiers would seriously reduce their motivation to fight and kill! The only trouble might be trying to stop your own troops from using it on themselves though… ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/11 "2003-09-02T13:38:41Z")
May I just say, this thread has the worst case of gratuitous verbifization of perfectly good nouns I have come across in a long while. ---
**Author:** ![Osakadave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f07891/32.png) [@Osakadave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osakadave)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/12 "2003-09-02T16:47:33Z")
Thanks for the answers. I am particularly interesred in Coca/cocaine HCl . This question is related to some events in a game ([www.nationstates.net](http://www.nationstates.net) if you must know). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaponizing-cocaine/198990/13 "2003-09-02T20:22:07Z")
> [@](#): > > If I remember correctly, cocaine can be made explosive. Almost anything can be explosive, if it’s ground into a fine powder. This includes most organic compounds and most metals. But I’ve never heard that cocaine would work any better than, say, sawdust.