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MPRC Fact Sheet: Synthetic Cannabinoids

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What are Synthetic Cannabinoids?

Synthetic cannabinoids (often referred to as synthetic marijuana) are a blend of herbs often sold as incense or potpourri that mimic the effects of marijuana. These herbal mixtures are sprayed with one or more chemicals that are similar to THC, the main active component in marijuana. Unlike marijuana, high doses of these synthetic drugs can produce severe symptoms of agitation, vomiting, elevated blood pressure, elevated heart rate, delusions, hallucinations, and even seizures.[1]

Synthetic cannabinoid products are often sold on the Internet, in head shops and at various gas stations. They are sold in small foil or plastic packages (2 x 3 inches), and can contain dried herbs of a variety of color including red, brown, yellow and green.

Product Names:

Synthetic cannabinoids are sold under a variety of names including, Blaze, Blueberry Haze, Dank, Genie, K2, Magma, Nitro, Puff, Red X Dawn, Sativah Herbal Smoke, Sence, Skunk, Smoke, Spice, Ultra Chronic, Voodoo Spice, Yucatan Fire and Zohai.

Signs and Symptoms of Use:

  • Agitation
  • Anxiety/Confusion
  • Intense headaches
  • Dilated pupils
  • Pale appearance

Statistics:

  • In 2010, there were 2,915 calls in the United States to poison control centers regarding synthetic cannabinoids.
  • Between January 01, 2011 and August 31, 2011, there were 4,421 calls in the United States to poison control centers. This represents an increase of over 150% in just the first 8 months of 2011. [2]

Additional Resources:

[1] Drug Enforcement Administration. (2011, July 19). K2 or Spice [Fact Sheet] Retrieved from www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/abuse/drug_data_sheets/K2_Spice.pdf

[2] American Association of Poison Control Centers. (2011, September 08). Synthetic marijuana data. Retrieved from
http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/Portals/0/Synthetic%20Marijuana%20Data%20for%20...