The fake «Blue Piatella» actually contained PINACA

A batch of strikingly blue hashish, marketed under the name « Blue Magic Melt Hash »and sold in at least one Amsterdam coffeeshop, was found to contain a synthetic cannabinoid closely related to MDMB-PINACA, according to laboratory analyses reported by journalist Mauro Picavet for CannabisIndustrie.nl.

The case was first revealed in April 2026. on Reddit, where several users of the r/AmsterdamEnts forum shared photos and videos of hashd with an unusually blue color. Consumers described a «chewing gum» aroma and a taste reminiscent of «sweet e-liquid», characteristics that immediately aroused suspicion. One consumer also reported throat irritation after consumption.

Concerned by these testimonials, a sample was finally submitted for laboratory testing.

Laboratory analysis reveals a synthetic cannabinoid

According to Mauro Picavet's report, the sample was analyzed by the accredited Slovenian laboratory Spectral Fingerprints. The results showed a radically different composition from that of conventional hashish.

The product tested contained 86.12 % of CBD and only 0.14 % of THC, an unusual profile for a product marketed as a potent hashish. Further analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified what the laboratory described as «most likely an isopentyl derivative of MDMB-PINACA», present at around 0.63 %.

The laboratory also detected three unidentified compounds that could not be fully characterized.

Although the exact molecule has yet to be confirmed by further structural analysis, the compound identified belongs to the indazole-based synthetic cannabinoids, These substances are known to produce effects that can be far more powerful and less predictable than those of natural cannabinoids.

As Mauro Picavet notes in his original article, the coffeeshop where the product was reportedly sold removed it from its menu after these results were made public.

Why are PINACA compounds a cause for concern?

Synthetic cannabinoids from the PINACA have been associated with numerous cases of poisoning and death worldwide. Similar compounds, such as MDMB-4in-PINACA, have been identified in Europe since 2017 and have been linked to serious adverse events, including cardiovascular complications, neurological symptoms and death.

Unlike THC, which acts as a partial agonist of cannabinoid receptors, many synthetic cannabinoids are full agonists, meaning they can stimulate these receptors much more intensely. This can increase the risk of anxiety, tachycardia, loss of consciousness, convulsions and other serious side effects.

The Blue Magic case may not be an isolated incident. According to the investigation, several other hashish-based products marketed as traditional cannabis resin showed unusual cannabinoid profiles when tested.

Samples sold under names such as«Piatella», «La Mousse»and «Libanon»CBD levels were incompatible with what would normally be expected from products marketed as THC-rich hashish. Although these products were not subjected to the same advanced laboratory analyses, the results suggest that some products marketed as hashish premium may in fact be based on CBD extracts to which additional substances have been added.

Lack of traceability remains a major challenge in the supply chain of Dutch coffeeshops outside the framework of the’the country's regulated cannabis experience.

Similar products can already be seen in France

The problem is not limited to the Netherlands. At the end of April, French influencer Aymo, known for his cannabis content, posted a video on Instagram featuring a bright blue resin marketed under the name «Piatella Myrtille». While no link has been established between this resin and the batch of Blue Magic analyzed in the Netherlands, these almost simultaneous appearances of artificially colored hash raise questions about the emergence of a new marketing trend whose real composition often remains opaque to consumers.

In fact, some online stores still feature products labelled with the words «Blue Piatella»containing cannabinoids such as 10-OH, the THX or even the THCA.

The marketing of THCA-based products raises further questions. Under French legislation, cannabis-based products exceeding 0.3 % of THC are classified as narcotics and are therefore illegal. Given that THCA naturally transforms into THC when heated, the legal status of certain products marketed as «THCA hashish» remains particularly delicate.

The Blue Magic case is a reminder that consumers and retailers must remain vigilant when faced with products marketed under fashionable names or with unusual characteristics. It also exposes the limits of an incomplete regulatory framework: rather than concentrating its efforts on legitimate hemp products, It would be to the legislator's advantage to establish a clear, coherent and fully supervised framework for CBD-related activities.