The world of drugs is virtually infinite. Some are extracted from plants and natural products, while others are manufactured in laboratories. This means that the range of these substances available on the market is as wide as it is varied. One of the drugs created from chemicals whose consumption has grown over the years is synthetic cannabinoids. Despite having the word cannabis in their name, they bear no relation to marijuana in terms of composition. However, they are named as such because they do have in common that they interact with marijuana receptors in the brain and produce similar effects.
What are synthetic cannabinoids?
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are a vast group of substances with different structures that have an affinity for cannabinoid receptors. Their consumption has multiplied in recent years among those seeking effects similar to cannabis. One of the first commercial names, forever linked as an eponym to these substances, was Spice, the best known of this type of substance. The active ingredients of SCs are structurally small, fat-soluble, and volatile molecules (which facilitates their consumption through smoking).
The development of synthetic cannabinoids began in the 1960s and 1970s when major pharmaceutical companies sought molecules capable of emulating the potential therapeutic effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Since then, hundreds of SCs have been synthesized, and although their recreational use seems to focus on a few dozen, it is expected that their development will not stop. During the 1970s and 1980s, they began to be marketed as herbal products to be burned as aromatic incense. Later, at the end of the century, they seemed to practically disappear due, in part, to the increase in manufacturing costs. However, at the beginning of the new century, the trade and consumption of SCs resurfaced and remains so to this day.
How are synthetic cannabinoids presented?
This drug is usually distributed in vacuum-sealed bags, offered to the public as “mystic incense,” “meditation potpourri,” “bath additives,” “air fresheners,” etc. Of course, these bags are also presented with the message “not for human consumption.” Additionally, they feature suggestive images and drawings, with dried and chopped plants inside. These bags appear in different colors with an immense range of flavors. The packages contain varying amounts (generally around 3 grams). The mixture they contain is composed of herbal products, SCs, and, frequently, vitamin E. The high purity of the molecules is noteworthy, as they only exceptionally contain adulterants.
The doses used are usually small, generally less than 0.3-0.5 grams of the herbal preparation with additives. In any case, dosage is difficult to regulate due to the lack of knowledge regarding the active ingredient to be consumed and its concentration. It is common for blogs to describe disparate experiences depending on the product consumed, even in individuals who intended to reproduce previous experiences having purchased the drug from the same provider. Therefore, the difficulty in controlling the expected effects of these toxins is one of the arguments against their use most frequently raised by users.
Effects of SC consumption
Synthetic cannabinoids act on the same brain cell receptors as THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. To date, there are few scientific studies on the effects of synthetic cannabinoids on the human brain. However, researchers know that some of them bind more strongly than marijuana to the receptors of cells affected by THC and can produce much more potent effects. The consequences this has for health can be unpredictable and dangerous.
As the chemical composition of many SC products is unknown and can vary from one batch to another, it is likely that these products contain substances that cause drastically different effects than what the user might expect. Even so, the most common effects produced by the consumption of synthetic cannabinoids are:
- Relaxation
- Elevated mood
- Altered perception
- Confusion
- Paranoia
- Extreme anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Symptoms of psychosis with delusions or disordered thoughts disconnected from reality
In cases where the consumption of this drug led to emergency room admissions, patients presented serious symptoms such as increased heart rate, vomiting, violent behavior, and suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, synthetic cannabinoids can also raise blood pressure and reduce blood flow to the heart, cause kidney damage, and trigger seizures.
What is their distribution?
Spice products are marketed mainly through the internet and specialized stores or smart shops, although the legal vacuum surrounding them has allowed their sale in some European Union countries to extend to sex shops or gas stations. However, the bulk of spice drug sales occurs through websites. These sites specify the legal status of each product offered according to the destination country, suggesting alternatives to bypass current legislation.
The perception of risk for any legal acquisition is always lower, and there is a danger of thinking they are safe alternatives. There has been deliberate marketing to present spice drugs as natural substances of plant origin that mimic the effects of cannabis. This has left consumers in a position of misinformation and lack of protection for years. Currently, in forums and blogs on the subject, the knowledge that psychoactive effects are due to synthetic additives seems widespread. After being detected within the European Union a decade ago, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction began to take the use of these substances very seriously.
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