Important Things To Know About Synthetic Cannabinoids

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Since the first products were produced in 2002, synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as synthetic marijuana, fake weed, K2, or Spice, have become a popular substitute for marijuana. Users often claim that synthetic cannabis is made of natural materials derived from various plants. However, these artificial items were developed in laboratories to aid researchers in their study of the cannabinoid system in the human brain.1

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that synthetic cannabis is toxic and can cause unanticipated, fatal side effects.2 Synthetic cannabis is not a safe substitute for marijuana, and any addiction could result in a severe and deadly health issue.

What Are Synthetic Cannabinoids?

Synthetic cannabinoids are substances produced by humans that are used to make smoked, vaporised, and inhaled products such as e-cigarettes, vape pens, and tea. They are sprayed on dried, shredded plant material. It is sometimes referred to as herbal incense, liquid incense, or fake weed and resembles potpourri frequently.

These chemicals have the same effects on brain cell receptors as THC, the component of marijuana that alters perception. The high from synthetic marijuana is more intense and unpredictable because it binds to these receptors more strongly.3

Synthetic marijuana is known by many distinct street names, including Bliss, Spice, Black Mamba, Blaze, Bombay Blue, Fake Weed, Legal Weed, Genie, Zohai, Red X, Dawn Scooby Skunk, and Snax.

There are also numerous other brands of synthetic cannabis, including Blaze, Blueberry Haze, Dank, Demon Passion Smoke, Genie, Hawaiian Hybrid, K2, Magma, Ninja, Nitro, Ono Budz, Panama Red Ball, Puff, Sativah Herbal Smoke, Skunk, Spice, Ultra Chronic, and Voodoo Spice.

Effects of Synthetic Cannabis On the Body

The effects of synthetic cannabinoids on the brain are significantly more unpredictable and, in some circumstances, life-threatening than those of marijuana and include:
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Anxiety
  • Paranoia
  • Brain swelling
  • Seizures
  • Hallucinations
  • Aggression
  • Heart palpitations
  • Chest pains

Because they are not regulated, synthetic cannabinoids provide consumers with higher hazards than marijuana. It is nearly difficult to know precisely which chemicals and how many of them are included in any given product.

Using synthetic cannabis is a high risk since you never know what you’re truly consuming. Anxiety, hallucinations, an accelerated heart rate, psychosis, and nausea are just a few of the highly unpleasant side effects that synthetic cannabinoids can cause. This is because they attach to brain receptors more strongly than natural marijuana.

Does your child claim to be smoking marijuana but is experiencing significant adverse effects? Then, they may be consuming Spice or another type of synthetic cannabinoid and not actual marijuana.

Long-Term Effects of Synthetic Marijuana

Synthetic marijuana can lead to overdose when used for the first time because it contains varying amounts of synthetic cannabinoids and other toxic chemicals such as bath salts and flakka. Long-term use can also increase your risk of overdosing because you may take higher and higher amounts to keep getting high.

Some common overdose symptoms are:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Panic
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
Synthetic marijuana is quite a recent drug. This means further investigation into its long-term impacts needs to be done. According to WebMD, this is another reason it’s so harmful. There could be adverse effects that don’t manifest for 20 to 40 years, and these may include:
  • Heart, lungs, or blood vessel damage
  • Psychological issues caused by addiction
  • Problems with relationships, the law, careers, or finances
  • Physical withdrawal symptoms when stopping

Test for Synthetic Cannabinoids

Regular urine or saliva drug tests can only detect the natural chemicals of actual cannabis; they cannot detect the compounds in synthetic cannabis. Fortunately, tests for synthetic cannabinoids are now readily available and can detect these synthetic compounds.

The ECO™ II Cup is one of the newest drug testing kits available on the market that can identify synthetic marijuana. This drug testing kit is certified to the Australian Standard. It offers a competitive immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies to detect synthetic cannabis and other drugs in human urine.

The urine sample is easily collected in the cup, and the results are typically ready in 1-2 minutes. It is a simple and quick method to detect synthetic cannabis for employers and parents who want to test their staff and children, respectively.

Signs of Synthetic Marijuana Abuse

Suppose you are an employer or a teenager’s parent. In that case, it is essential to understand the behavioural and physical impacts of synthetic marijuana. While these signs do not confirm that your employee or child is using drugs, they are strong markers of drug usage and should be regarded carefully.

Behavioural signs:

  • Purchasing or using eye drops
  • Having dried plants or herbs
  • Frequently burning incense
  • Having a stash of rolling papers or vape pens
  • Exhibiting strange or secretive behaviours
  • Receiving suspicious mail packages

Physical symptoms:

  • Red eyes
  • Pale skin
  • Confusion
  • Restlessness

Conclusion

The most crucial thing you can do if you think someone you care about is using synthetic marijuana is to spend time with them, warn them about its risks, and keep an eye out for any symptoms of use. Then, a healthcare expert can work with you and your loved one to safely detox from the substance and diagnose and treat any co-occurring mental illness. However, before deciding that your staff or loved one is using synthetic cannabis and needs help, you must conduct a drug test to be sure.

Australia Drug Testing provides the ECO™ II Cup drug testing kit suitable for fast and easy identification of synthetic cannabis and other illicit drugs present in the body. Contact us today.

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