K2 and Spice are just two of the many trade names or brands for synthetic designer drugs that are intended to mimic THC, the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. These designer synthetic drugs are from the synthetic cannabinoid class of drugs that are often marketed and sold under the guise of “herbal incense” or “potpourri.”

These products are being abused for their psychoactive properties and are packaged without information as to their health and safety risks. Joker herbal incense 10g

Spice, K2, RedX Dawn, Paradise, Demon, Black Magic, Spike, Mr. Nice Guy, Ninja, Zohai, Dream, Genie, Sence, Smoke, Skunk, Serenity, Yucatan, Fire, Skooby Snax, and Crazy Clown.

Spraying or mixing the synthetic cannabinoids on plant material provides a vehicle for the most common route of administration – smoking (using a pipe, a water pipe, or rolling the drug-laced plant material in cigarette papers). In addition to the cannabinoids laced on plant material and sold as potpourri and incense, liquid cannabinoids have been designed to be vaporized through both disposable and reusable electronic cigarettes. Joker herbal incense 10g

State public health and poison centers have issued warnings in response to adverse health effects associated with abuse of herbal incense products containing these synthetic cannabinoids.

These adverse effects included tachycardia (elevated heart rate), elevated blood pressure, unconsciousness, tremors, seizures, vomiting, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, pallor, numbness, and tingling. Joker herbal incense 10g

This is in addition to the numerous public health and poison centers which have similarly issued warnings regarding the abuse of these synthetic cannabinoids. In some instances, the adverse health effects can be long-lasting even after the user quits using the substances.

What are synthetic cannabinoids?

Synthetic cannabinoids are human-made mind-altering chemicals that are either sprayed on dried, shredded plant material so they can be smoked or sold as liquids to be vaporized and inhaled in e-cigarettes and other devices. These products are also known as herbal or liquid incense.

These chemicals are called cannabinoids because they are similar to chemicals found in the marijuana plant. Because of this similarity, synthetic cannabinoids are sometimes misleadingly called synthetic marijuana (or fake weed), and they are often marketed as safe, legal alternatives to that drug. In fact, they are not safe and may affect the brain much more powerfully than marijuana; their actual effects can be unpredictable and, in some cases, more dangerous or even life-threatening.

Synthetic cannabinoids are part of a group of drugs called new psychoactive substances (NPS). NPS are unregulated mind-altering substances that have become newly available on the market and are intended to produce the same effects as illegal drugs. Some of these substances may have been around for years but have reentered the market in altered chemical forms, or due to renewed popularity.

Stimulants and synthetic cannabis
The most common active components in bath salts can be either (1) mephedrone or, (2) 3, 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)-both powerful stimulants producing effects similar to those of methamphetamines. Mephedrone is chemically similar to cathinone, the active ingredient of the African Khat plant which is well known for its abuse potential. MDPV inhibits reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine.

Herbal incense products contain synthetic cannabinoids. However, these drugs bind to cannabinoid receptors as full agonists as opposed to cannabis’s partial agonist activity.⁶ Thus, they are believed to have a heightened potential for adverse events. Both bath salts and herbal incense are abused for their psychogenic, hallucinogenic and mood-altering effects.⁷

Albeit very early, there is some evidence for the abuse potential of synthetic cannabinoids.8 Chronic abuse has been associated with signs of addiction and withdrawal that are similar to those observed in cannabis abuse.⁶ In an Internet-based survey of adults who used synthetic cannabis, it was found that the use of other psychoactive drugs was common.⁹ Further, users continued to seek out and use synthetic cannabis even after it had been banned by local authorities. As a result, synthetic cannabis users are “exposed to drugs that are extremely variable in composition and potency, and are at risk of serious, if not lethal, outcomes.”⁵

Recently, the US and Canada banned these substances. Yet the problem persists because manufacturers are a step ahead, ready to produce other slightly modified synthetic variants.⁵ To date, more than 140 different synthetic cannabis products have been identified.⁵ Another problem is that the SLIDs may not be identified by standard urine drug screens, particularly if they have been newly developed. It has been my experience that persons on probation or parole (who must undergo random urine drug screens) are fond of using SLIDs for this very reason.