Synthetic Cannabinoid Fact Sheet 09 June 2016 What is synthetic marijuana? Why do people use synthetic cannabinoid “Synthetic marijuana” is a common, but misleading, products like “Spice” and “K2?” term that refers to a class of substances more The emergence of synthetic cannabinoids has accurately called cannabinoid receptor agonists or mirrored the same trends seen with other novel synthetic cannabinoids.i Whereas marijuana usually psychoactive substances. People may use synthetic refers to the dried flowered buds of the actual plant, cannabinoids when experimenting with other which derives its main psychoactive effect through substances, and in some cases use may be THCii, synthetic cannabinoids get their name from their accidental. action on various cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Sacrificing accuracy for simplicity, people in public Most people aren’t aware that the effects are unlike office, the media, and law enforcement use the term marijuana – thus repeated use is rare. And, if given “synthetic marijuana” or the brand names of products the choice, adults would very likely choose to use sold, such as “Spice” or “K2,” that are known to contain marijuana if it were legally available.vii various synthetic cannabinoids.iii The first and most well-known synthetic cannabinoids in laboratory research are known as the JWH Series, but soon after Due to the ongoing prohibition of marijuana, those were banned, newer and less researched emergence of the synthetic cannabinoid market over iv synthetic cannabinoids, such as XLR-11, AB- the last decade has met demand by being a legal or v vi PINACA, and AB-FUBINACA were found in products quasi legal alternative. Because standard drug testing that were still legal. only tests for THC found in plant-based marijuana, synthetic cannabinoid products do not trigger a The substances that were later identified in these positive result. This appealed to active military products were originally discovered by scientific personnel, professional athletes, people on parole, and researchers looking to understand more about the people in treatment for substance misuse who were cannabinoid receptor system in the human brain and among the earliest reported users of these products. immune system. Many of these substances have Another group commonly using synthetic cannabinoids different chemical structures than THC, the main are those suffering from chaotic life situations, often psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and are full homeless or low income.viii Synthetic cannabinoids agonists at cannabinoid receptors, which can cause became an affordable replacement to marijuana are vii them to produce very different effects than THC, other drugs. which is a partial agonist.This is one possible reason for the higher rates of some of the more extreme side While no specific measures are available, people that effects that are only occasionally seen in adverse continue to use synthetic cannabinoids are perhaps reactions to marijuana. those looking for a cheaper alternative or to pass drug tests, rather than due to preference over marijuana.ix Drug Policy Alliance | 131 West 33rd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10001 Page 1 [email protected] | 212.613.8020 voice | 212.613.8021 fax What’s the difference between synthetic What’s the difference between “Spice”, “K2,” and cannabinoids and marijuana? other synthetic cannabinoid products? Marijuana is a natural plant that grows both in the wild A synthetic cannabinoid product is a branded package and is cultivated for its medicinal properties and for containing herbal matter sprayed or doused with liquid recreational use. Though synthetic cannabinoids are synthetic cannabinoids. “Spice” and “K2” are considered chemical relatives or analogues to examples of very early brands of synthetic cannabinoid substances in marijuana, they are not actually found in products. The first synthetic cannabinoids found in plant-based marijuana and therefore have chemical these products are known as the JWH series, which and pharmacological properties largely unknown were the most extensively studied in laboratory outside of the laboratory.x research. As laws banning the JWH compounds took effect, newer and less researched synthetic Due to the ongoing prohibition of marijuana and cannabinoids such as XR-11, AB-PINACA, and AB- advances in technology that allowed for access to drug FUBINACA were used in products since they had not research and easier chemical production, a market for been banned. synthetic cannabinoids developed in the early 2000s.xi Synthetic cannabinoid products began being produced There are hundreds of different name brands, but and sold in herbal smoking blends as legal marijuana synthetic cannabinoids are not always sold that way. replacements.xii The products are packaged and They may also simply be sold as marijuana might be, branded to suggest a similarity to the effects of as a joint or in a plastic bag without any information as marijuana, but because the material are inert herbal to the actual contents. mixtures doused with synthetic cannabinoids, their appearance, taste, and smell are different. Just because synthetic cannabinoids can be sold in a branded package does not mean the synthetic What are the effects of synthetic cannabinoids? cannabinoids used are always the same.xviii Due to Synthetic cannabinoids are mistakenly considered to lack of regulation there is no incentive for closely mimic the effects of marijuana, but in fact there manufacturers, mostly consisting of clandestine labs in are significant differences. As their name suggests, Asia, to ensure a consistent, high-quality product. synthetic cannabinoids, like THC and other substances These labs are constantly changing formulations in an in marijuana, affect the brain by stimulating activity at effort to work around lawsxix attempting to prohibit various cannabinoid receptors.xiii Although research is them, and brands often contain an inconsistent and limited, preliminary studies suggest that effects include unreliable combination of synthetic cannabinoids.xx feeling stimulated and energetic, increased appetite, Therefore, the difference between synthetic and producing a dream-like state, but can also include cannabinoid products can be as variable as the nausea and vomiting, seizures, aggression and difference from packet to packet of the same brand agitation, as well as respiratory failure and loss of name. Furthermore, material within the packet itself consciousness.xiv Whereas THC, the main may even have varying levels of potency, which could psychoactive substance in marijuana, is a partial result in very high levels of chemicals unintentionally agonist, synthetic cannabinoids are full agonists. ingested.xxi Adverse reactions to synthetic cannabinoids saw calls How risky are synthetic cannabinoid products to poison control centers peak at just under 10,000 in compared to marijuana or other drugs? 2015,xv and the number of emergency room visits in These substances are generally more harmful than the tens of thousandsxvi (these figures have since gone plant-based marijuana. Many of the adverse reactions down). One explanation for the high number of hospital to synthetic cannabinoids have been reported to visits is that other substances in marijuana known to involve dangerous physical symptoms, whereas protect against anxiety and psychotic symptomsxvii adverse reactions to natural marijuana typically involve likely balance out the direct effects of THC on the brain symptoms resembling anxiety and panic, which though but are absent in synthetic cannabinoids. worrisome, are not lethal. In 2012, state public health department officials, poison control centers and CDC Until more research is done on individual synthetic researchers identified 16 cases of acute kidney injury cannabinoids specific causes for these effects will related to use of synthetic cannabinoids in six states remain only partially understood. (Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, New York, Rhode Island Drug Policy Alliance | 131 West 33rd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10001 Page 2 [email protected] | 212.613.8020 voice | 212.613.8021 fax and Wyoming).xxii continue to use synthetic cannabinoids are likely those looking for a cheaper alternative or to pass drug tests. The sudden rise of synthetic cannabinoid related calls to poison centers, hospitalizations and even instances Are synthetic cannabinoids legal? of fatal reactions has never been seen with marijuana, For the most part, no. When synthetic cannabinoid which has only ever been indirectly associated with products began to appear in convenience stores in the drug-related deaths, and never shown to result in a mid-2000s they contained substances that were not fatal overdose. Deaths linked to synthetic specifically banned by state or federal drug laws. But cannabinoids do not compare to numbers from drugs by the end of the decade, a few states passed laws to like heroin and cocaine,xxiii and while the brief rise in ban their sale, and in 2011 the DEA used emergency ER visits and poison center calls did signal a protocols to temporarily schedule some of the temporary cause for concern (these figures have since substances found in synthetic cannabinoid products. gone down),xxiv alarmist responses and harsh law The next year, President Obama signed the Synthetic enforcement crackdowns often overshadow the need Drug Abuse Prevention Act, permanently placing for public education and harm reduction measures and several different classes of psychoactive ultimately cause