{"id":7928,"date":"2017-12-13T21:59:43","date_gmt":"2017-12-13T21:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.denverpost.com?p=2888245&amp;preview_id=2888245"},"modified":"2017-12-13T21:59:43","modified_gmt":"2017-12-13T21:59:43","slug":"synthetic-cannabinoids-are-not-synthetic-marijuana-what-you-need-to-know-about-spice-k2-and-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/synthetic-cannabinoids-are-not-synthetic-marijuana-what-you-need-to-know-about-spice-k2-and-others\/","title":{"rendered":"Synthetic cannabinoids are not \u201csynthetic marijuana\u201d: What you need to know about Spice, K2 and others"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/synthetic-cannabinoids-are-not-synthetic-marijuana-what-you-need-to-know-about-spice-k2-and-others\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"large-10 large-centered small-12 columns\">\n<div class=\"entry-meta-date\">Published: Dec 13, 2017, 1:52 pm \u2022 Updated: Dec 13, 2017, 2:14 pm<span class=\"single-comments-link\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"byline\">By <span class=\"author\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thecannabist.co\/author\/ssquibb\/\" rel=\"author\">Susan Squibb<\/a><\/span><em>, The Cannabist Staff<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Hey, Cannabist!<\/strong><br \/>What\u2019s the deal with Spice?\u00a0Is it synthetic marijuana? I\u2019m confused because people have died from using Spice. If it is an artificial version of marijuana, why are deaths attributed to its use?<br \/><em>\u2013Conclusive Cameron\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Hey, Cameron!<\/strong><br \/>Great question! Let\u2019s clear up a few things about fake pot, shall we?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thecannabist.co\/2014\/01\/16\/cannabist-questions-synthetic-pot-users-treating-anxiety-cannabutter-leftovers\/2812\/\">Synthetic marijuana<\/a> is a misnomer and the substance is not derived from cannabis plants at all.<\/p>\n<p>The substance goes by many names on the street \u2014 Spice, K2, Black Mamba, Mr. Nice Guy, Blaze and dozens of others. Spice is made to look and smoke like ground-up marijuana buds or is sometimes formulated into liquid vape juice; either way it is consumed, it can produce extreme effects in the body.<\/p>\n<p>The smokable Spice is made by taking shredded and dried plant material and spraying it with synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs \u2014 the acronym varies, some researchers refer to them as SCs). The synthetic cannabinoids such as artificial THC are made from chemicals and manufactured in formulations that have changed over the years in order to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thecannabist.co\/2017\/01\/27\/synthetic-cannabinoids-dea-schedule-i\/72386\/\">dodge federal restrictions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>According to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov\/fed_regs\/rules\/2015\/fr0130.htm\">Diversion Control Division<\/a> of DEA, in 2008, Spice started to appear for sale in convenience stores, gas stations, head shops and online. It is often packaged in bright foil wrappers, and typically <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugabuse.gov\/publications\/drugfacts\/synthetic-cannabinoids\">mislabeled with a message saying it\u2019s \u201cNatural incense: Not intended for consumption<\/a>.\u201d The products may be touted as a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cell.com\/trends\/pharmacological-sciences\/fulltext\/S0165-6147(16)30185-7\">\u201clegal\u201d form of marijuana, and undetectable by\u00a0mandatory drug test\u00a0screens<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"figure wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/synthetic-cannabinoids-are-not-synthetic-marijuana-what-you-need-to-know-about-spice-k2-and-others.jpg\" alt=\"what is synthetic marijuana? Synthetic cannabinoids explained\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-50487\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An assortment of Spice products removed from O\u2019s Pipes and Tobacco as part of the four Spice-related cases filed by Colorado Attorney General Cynthia H. Coffman. (Colorado Attorney General\u2019s office)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Originally, SCBs began as lab research compounds. The synthetic cannabinoids, like the natural plant compounds in marijuana such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), engage with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thecannabist.co\/2017\/05\/02\/endocannabinoid-system-cannabis\/78767\/\">endocannabinoid system<\/a>\u00a0in the body. <\/p>\n<h3>How the body\u2019s endocannabinoid system works<\/h3>\n<p>There is a difference between SCBs and naturally occurring cannabinoids found in marijuana plants in how they interact with the endocannabinoid system.<\/p>\n<p>Pharmacist and educator <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ucdenver.edu\/academics\/colleges\/pharmacy\/Departments\/ClinicalPharmacy\/DOCPFaculty\/A-G\/Pages\/FransonKariLPharmDPhD.aspx\">Kari L. Franson<\/a>, who\u2019s an associate dean at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, explains that in the body, the difference between synthetic and naturally occurring THC at the endocannabinoid receptor sites is like water pressure in a hose.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do know that (Spice) is a full <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Agonist\">agonist<\/a> at the cannabinoid receptors,\u201d Franson told The Cannabist. \u201cThis is in contrast to our bodies\u2019 own endocannabinoids and THC, which are partial agonists. Essentially, the full agonist turns the receptors on 100 percent versus a partial that may only do 50 percent.\u00a0 Think of a garden hose versus a fire hose \u2026 even with a higher dose of water, only so much can come out of the garden hose.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In other words, synthetic cannabinoids completely open the receptor doors in the brain, while natural cannabinoids partially open the receptor doors.<\/p>\n<p>This physiological difference means hits of Spice are more intense than marijuana.\u00a0While Spice has been said to produce psychoactive effects similar to marijuana such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugabuse.gov\/publications\/drugfacts\/synthetic-cannabinoids\">relaxation and elevated mood<\/a>, it can also have\u00a0more drastic repercussions. In\u00a0March 2017, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cell.com\/trends\/pharmacological-sciences\/abstract\/S0165-6147(16)30185-7\">Trends in Pharmacological Science<\/a>, published a review of synthetic cannabinoids as an illicit drug and stated:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSCBs present in K2\/Spice products produce a variety of dangerous acute and chronic adverse effects, including psychosis, seizures, tolerance, dependence, and death, with a greater severity and frequency than observed following marijuana use.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s not good!<\/p>\n<p>Despite any claims on product packaging, Spice is not legal in the United States. In 2011, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration placed five SCBs under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov\/fed_regs\/rules\/2015\/fr0130.htm\">federal Controlled Substance Schedule I<\/a>, the most restrictive classification. The DEA added more SCBs to Schedule I in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov\/fed_regs\/rules\/2015\/fr0130.htm\">2015<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thecannabist.co\/2017\/01\/27\/synthetic-cannabinoids-dea-schedule-i\/72386\/\">2017<\/a>. The SCB formulas in Spice have been known to change to elude state and federal regulations that outlaw a specific SCB chemical formula. These undisclosed formula changes also create additional risks for consumers who don\u2019t know the difference.<\/p>\n<h3>Synthetic cannabinoids and drug testing<\/h3>\n<p>Although Spice is touted to fool drug tests, one group of experts say Spice use can indeed be uncovered by drug tests. The American College of Medical Toxicology says that although synthetic cannabinoids are not detected in drug screens for marijuana, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.acmt.net\/Synthetic_Cannabinoids.html\">specialized screens can reveal the presence of synthetic cannabinoids<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>In Colorado, periodic flares of emergency room visits have been linked to Spice use. One of the largest outbreaks was in August 2013, with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2013\/12\/12\/cdc-221-sickened-by-synthetic-pot-in-colorado\/\">221 emergency room visits that were attributed to Spice<\/a>. Although no one died, according to an incident report from the Centers for Disease Control, the patients \u2014 predominantly young men \u2014 had increased blood pressure and heart rates and exhibited various behaviors such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/preview\/mmwrhtml\/mm6249a7.htm?s_cid=mm6249a7_w\">somnolence, aggression, agitation and confusion<\/a>. In 2015, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/preview\/mmwrhtml\/mm6422a5.htm?s_cid=mm6422a5_w\">15 deaths in the U.S. were attributed to Spice<\/a>. Similar to the 2013 Colorado patient summary, nationally the patients who were treated tended to be young \u2014 26 was the average age \u2014 and predominantly male.<\/p>\n<p>Additional side effects listed by the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.acmt.net\/Synthetic_Cannabinoids.html\">American College of Medical Toxicology on a resource page<\/a> created by Dr. Scott Lucyk include: hallucinations\/psychosis, seizures, heart attack, nausea and vomiting, and kidney failure. Lucyk additionally noted that synthetic cannabinoids are known to cause physical dependence and can trigger withdrawal symptoms when use is stopped.<\/p>\n<p>This wraps up the rundown on the illicit drug Spice. To sum up, it\u2019s best to stay safe, natural and legal with your cannabinoid use.\u00a0XO<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-meta-author\">\n<div class=\"authorimage\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thecannabist.co\/author\/ssquibb\/\" rel=\"author\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/synthetic-cannabinoids-are-not-synthetic-marijuana-what-you-need-to-know-about-spice-k2-and-others-1.jpg\" class=\"authormug\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"author-desc\">Susan Squibb, the Cannabis Maven, is a Denver-based freelance cannabis writer and an operations management consultant. She founded and organizes the event, Mother&#8217;s High Tea. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter and&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- .row --> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<p>Street drugs such as Spice and K2 contain synthetic cannabinoids and are touted as fake marijuana. That&#8217;s a misnomer. What you need to know about the affects on the body, drug tests and more. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[330,233,6892,6813,77,5667,9,5019,1,3,18,61,1736],"tags":[2908,2811,6893,6818,2655,5673,5022,2622],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7928"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7928\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}