January 2023, a news story broke about a sweet laced with synthetic cannabinoids causing life-changing injuries to several individuals.
The media headlines all said something like “cannabis-laced sweet causes life-changing injuries”.
However, synthetic cannabinoids are not the same as natural cannabinoids from cannabis, and unlike natural cannabinoids, their use can pose serious dangers.
In this blog post, we will explore the differences between synthetic and natural cannabinoids, the risks associated with using synthetic cannabinoids, and the impact of prohibition on drug use.
Synthetic cannabinoids are not cannabis
It is important to understand that synthetic cannabinoids are not the same as natural cannabinoids from the cannabis plant.
Synthetic cannabinoids are chemically created compounds designed to mimic the effects of natural cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), but they are produced in a laboratory and not found in nature.
Synthetic cannabinoids are often created as a way to get around restrictions on THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis that is responsible for its “high” effect. Synthetic cannabinoids can be much more potent than natural cannabinoids and can have unpredictable effects on the body.
Furthermore, synthetic cannabinoids are often marketed as a “legal high,” making them an attractive option for those looking to get high without breaking the law. However, the reality is that synthetic cannabinoids can be much more dangerous than natural cannabinoids, and their use can lead to serious health consequences.
In fact, synthetic cannabinoids have been linked to a range of negative side effects, including seizures, heart problems, kidney damage, psychosis, and even death. These risks are not present with natural cannabinoids from cannabis, which are generally considered safe for consumption.
How do they make synthetic cannabinoids like spice and K2?
The specific methods for creating synthetic cannabinoids like Spice and K2 can vary, but they generally involve starting with a base compound and modifying its chemical structure to create a new compound that produces similar effects to THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis.
The base compounds used in synthetic cannabinoid production can include a wide range of chemicals, including solvents, acids, and reagents. Once the base compound is selected, it is modified using various chemical reactions to create a new compound with psychoactive properties.
Because the chemical structures of synthetic cannabinoids can be modified easily, there are countless variations of synthetic cannabinoids in circulation. This makes it difficult for regulatory agencies to keep up with new compounds as they emerge, and it also makes it challenging for users to know what they are actually consuming.
It’s important to note that synthetic cannabinoids can be much more potent than natural cannabinoids, and their effects can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
Is Delta 8 THC a synthetic cannabinoid?
Delta-8-THC is a minor cannabinoid that naturally occurs in cannabis in small amounts. However, it can also be produced synthetically from CBD or delta-9-THC.
It is structurally similar to delta-9-THC, which is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. However, delta-8-THC is less potent than delta-9-THC, meaning that users typically experience a milder high when consuming it.
Delta-8-THC has gained popularity in recent years as a legal alternative to delta-9-THC, which is still illegal in many parts of the world. Some states in the US have legalised delta-8-THC, while others have banned it or are in the process of doing so.
Prohibition leads to synthetic drugs
One of the most significant consequences of cannabis prohibition is the increase in the production and use of synthetic cannabinoids.
Prohibition has driven the market for synthetic cannabinoids by making cannabis illegal, which in turn has created a demand for legal alternatives.
Synthetic cannabinoids have become an attractive option for those looking to get high without breaking the law, and their availability has exploded in recent years.
Unfortunately, the rise in synthetic cannabinoid use has led to a range of negative consequences. Because synthetic cannabinoids are often produced in unregulated environments, users have no way of knowing what they are actually consuming.
Many synthetic cannabinoids are contaminated with other substances, which can be very dangerous, especially for those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Furthermore, the unpredictable effects of synthetic cannabinoids can make their use very risky. Unlike natural cannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids can be much more potent and can have unpredictable effects on the body. This can make it difficult for users to control their intake and can lead to serious health consequences.
Impact on vulnerable populations, particularly in prison
One population that is particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of synthetic cannabinoids is those in prison. Because cannabis is often tested for in prisons, inmates turn to synthetic cannabinoids as a way to get high.
However, the use of synthetic cannabinoids in prison has been linked to a range of negative consequences, including violence, mental health problems, and even death.
The impact of synthetic cannabinoids on vulnerable populations extends beyond just those in prison. Homeless individuals and those with substance abuse disorders are also at increased risk of using synthetic cannabinoids, often as a result of limited access to natural cannabinoids like cannabis.
Legal cannabis would reduce demand for synthetics
Given the negative consequences of synthetic cannabinoids, it is clear that our current approach to drug policy is not working. The rise in synthetic cannabinoid use highlights the need for a new approach that prioritises harm reduction and education rather than prohibition.
One solution is the legalisation of cannabis, which would provide a safe and regulated alternative to synthetic cannabinoids.
Legalisation could allow for the cultivation and distribution of cannabis in a controlled environment, reducing the risk of contamination and ensuring that users know exactly what they are consuming. It would also provide opportunities for education and harm reduction programs to help reduce the negative consequences associated with drug use.
Furthermore, the legalisation of cannabis could have significant economic benefits for the UK. By creating a legal market for cannabis, the government could generate significant revenue through taxation, while also reducing the burden on the criminal justice system.
Several other countries, including Canada, Uruguay, and some US states, have already legalised cannabis with positive results. It’s time for the UK to follow suit and take a more progressive approach to drug policy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the recent news story about a sweet laced with synthetic cannabinoids causing life-changing injuries highlights the dangers associated with these lab-created compounds.
Synthetic cannabinoids are not the same as natural cannabinoids from the cannabis plant and their use can pose serious risks to health.
The prohibition of cannabis has led to an increase in the production and use of synthetic cannabinoids, particularly among vulnerable populations like those in prison.
The solution to reducing the demand for synthetic cannabinoids is the legalisation of cannabis, as legalisation would provide a safe and regulated alternative, reducing the risk of contamination and ensuring users know exactly what they are consuming.
It’s time for the UK to take a more progressive approach to drug policy and legalise cannabis to prioritise harm reduction and education over prohibition.
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Thank you for this article. I’ve been researching laced cannabis in the UK and this article has managed to sum up most of what I have found. Its good to have all of this information together.
Since the end of 2019 cannabis resin has been almost impossible to source in Scotland and perhaps most of the UK since the King of Morocco ordered a mass curb on cannabis cultivation/export to Europe (previously they supplied Europe with cannabis resin and herb).
Then as the pandemic began in March 2020 the people who wanted to buy cannabis desperately accepted what they were offered: mainly herbal cannabis (or so it has been sold as!). I believe most of the herbal cannabis on sale at the moment on the black market is in fact industrial hemp or poor quality herbal cannabis that is laced with synthetic cannabis.
How can I say this? Well, as an experienced user, up until January 2020 I regularly consumed cannabis resin and sometimes herbal cannabis to ease my anxiety symptoms associated with being autistic. Over the last 3 and a half years I have been sold what is believed to be herbal cannabis 5 or 6 times. Each time afterwards I have sworn not to do it again as I thought perhaps the strain was “just too strong for me”. The effects were very unpleasant…but each time I returned desperate for relief from anxiety hoping that maybe this batch might be different.
Only now have I realised that what I consumed is not ‘natural’. The effects, detox and behaviour I experienced were I’d say at least 10 times more than natural cannabis herb/resin.
If cannabis was legal here I could help ease my anxiety naturally and safely in a way where what I consume is regulated, the contents known, and I’d also happily be contributing tax towards the NHS.