This plant contains a narcotic poison, called stramonium. Stramonium comprises several alkaloids like atropine, scopaline, and hyoscyamine. Stramonium is not only a potent hallucinogen but also a toxic poison. Several people have died as a result of consuming jimsonweed. Instances of jimsonweed poisoning have been reported more frequently in humans than in animals.
Experimenters frequently require medical attention immediately after use.
Common symptoms include rapid pulse and breathing, dilated pupils, restlessness, nervousness, muscular twitching, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, and weight loss. In fatal cases, the pulse remains rapid but weak, breathing becomes slow and irregular, body temperature becomes subnormal, urine may be retained, and convulsions or coma precede death. Jimsonweed is poisonous to animals, but because of its strong odor and unpleasant taste, animals rarely eat enough of the green plant to be fatally poisoned. In cattle, early signs of poisoning include excitability, tremors, nervousness, bloat, and anorexia. Occasionally, death is reported.