Spice (drug)
Encyclopedia
Synthetic cannabis is a psychoactive herbal and chemical product which, when consumed, mimics the effects of cannabis
. It is best known by the brand names K2 and Spice, both of which have largely become genericized trademark
s used to refer to any synthetic cannabis product. (It is also for this reason that synthetic cannabis is often referred to as spice product, due to the latter.) A type of synthetic cannabis sold in Australasia is known as Kronic.
When synthetic cannabis blends first went on sale in the early 2000s it was thought that they achieved an effect through a mixture of legal herbs. Laboratory analysis in 2008 showed this was not the case and that they in fact contained synthetic cannabinoids which act on the body in a similar way to cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis, such as THC
. A large and complex variety of synthetic cannabinoids, most often cannabicyclohexanol
, JWH-018
, JWH-073
, or HU-210
, are used in an attempt to avoid the laws which make cannabis illegal, making synthetic cannabis a designer drug
. It has been sold under various brand names, online, in head shop
s and at some gas stations.
It is often marketed as "herbal incense
"; however, some brands market their products as "herbal smoking blends". In either case the products are usually smoked by users. Although synthetic cannabis does not produce positive results in drug test
s for cannabis, it is possible to detect its metabolites in human urine. The synthetic cannabinoids contained in synthetic cannabis products have been made illegal in many European countries. On November 24, 2010, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency announced it would use emergency powers to ban many synthetic cannabinoids within a month . Prior to the announcement, several US states had already made them illegal under state law. As of March 1, 2011, five cannabinoids, JWH-018
, JWH-073
, CP-47,497, JWH-200
, and cannabicyclohexanol
are now illegal in the US.
the assets of The Psyche Deli rose from £65,000 in 2006 to £899,000 in 2007. The EMCDDA reported in 2009 that ‘Spice’ products were identified in 21 of the 30 participating countries. Because 'Spice' was the dominant brand until 2009, the competing brands that started to appear from 2008 on, were also dubbed 'Spice'. Spice can therefore relate to both the brand 'Spice', as to all herbal blends with synthetic cannabinoids added. A survey of readers of Mixmag
in the UK in 2009, found that one in eight respondents had used synthetic cannabis, compared to 85% who had used cannabis.
, Nymphaea caerulea
, Scutellaria nana
, Pedicularis densiflora
, Leonotis leonurus
, Zornia latifolia
, Nelumbo nucifera
and Leonurus sibiricus
. However, when the product was analyzed by laboratories in Germany and elsewhere, it was found that many of the characteristic "fingerprint" molecules expected to be present from the claimed plant ingredients were not present. There were also large amounts of synthetic tocopherol
present. This suggested that the actual ingredients might not be the same as what was listed on the packet, and a German government risk assessment of the product conducted in November 2008 concluded that it was unclear what the actual plant ingredients were, where the synthetic tocopherol had come from, and whether the subjective cannabis-like effects were actually produced by any of the claimed plant ingredients or instead might possibly be caused by a synthetic cannabinoid drug.
in Germany announced that an active substance in Spice was an undisclosed analogue
of the synthetic cannabinoid CP 47,497
. Later that month, CP 47,497 along with its dimethylhexyl, dimethyloctyl and dimethylnonyl homologues
, were added to the German controlled drug schedules. In May the analogue of CP 47,497
was named cannabicyclohexanol
.
In July 2010, it was announced that JWH-018
is one of the active components in at least three versions of Spice, which had been sold in a number of countries around the world since 2002, often marketed as incense. Another potent synthetic cannabinoid, HU-210
, has been reported to have been found in Spice seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
. An analysis of samples acquired four weeks after the German prohibition of JWH-018 took place found that the compound had been replaced with JWH-073
.
Different ratios of JWH-018 and CP 47,497 and their analogues have been found in different brands of synthetic cannabis and manufacturers constantly change the composition of their products. The amount of JWH-018 in Spice has been found to vary from 0.2% to 3%.
An analysis of 41 different synthetic cannabis blends sold commercially in New Zealand
, conducted by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research
and released in July 2011, found 11 different synthetic cannabinoid ingredients used: including JWH-018
, JWH-073
, AM-694
, AM-2201
, RCS-4
, RCS-4 butyl homologue, JWH-210
, JWH-081
, JWH-250
(or possibly JWH-302
, isomer not determined), JWH-203
and JWH-122
—with between one and five different active ingredients, though JWH-018 was present in 37 of the 41 blends tested. In two brands the benzodiazepine
anxiolytic
drug phenazepam
was also found, which is classified as a prescription medicine in New Zealand, and so these brands were ordered to be removed from the market by emergency recall.
, who first synthesised many of the cannabinoids
used in synthetic cannabis, is quoted as saying, "People who use it are idiots." "You don't know what it's going to do to you." A user who consumed 3 g of Spice Gold every day for several months showed withdrawal
symptoms, similar to those associated with withdrawing from the use of narcotics. Doctors treating the user also noted that his use of the product showed signs associated with addiction. One case has been reported where a user, who had previously suffered from cannabis induced recurrent psychotic episodes, suffered reactivation of their symptoms after using Spice. Psychiatrists treating him have suggested that the lack of an antipsychotic
chemical, similar to cannabidiol
found in natural cannabis, may make synthetic cannabis more likely to induce psychosis than natural cannabis.
for cannabis or other illegal drugs using GC-MS-screening with library search, multi-target screening by LC-MS/MS
, or immunological screening procedures. A study has been conducted into the detection of metabolites of JWH-018 in urine; the metabolites are mainly conjugates with glucuronic acid
and can be reliably detected by GC–MS/MS and LC–MS/MS.
Germany: JWH-018, CP 47,497 and the C6, C8 and C9 homologues of CP 47,497 are illegal in Germany since January 22, 2009.
Finland: Spice blends are classified as a medicine in Finland and therefore it is illegal to order them without a prescription. In practice it is not possible to get a prescription.
France: JWH-018, CP 47,497 (and its homologues) and HU-210 were all made illegal in France on February 24, 2009.
Ireland: From June 2010, JWH-018, along with a variety of other designer drugs are illegal.
Latvia: JWH-018, JWH-073, CP 47,497 (and its homologues) and HU-210 are all banned in Latvia as well as leonotis leonurus.
Poland: JWH-018
and many of the herbs mentioned on the ingredient lists of Spice and similar preparations were made illegal in May 2009. The bill was passed by Polish Sejm, Polish Senat and was signed by the President.
Romania: Spice was made illegal in Romania
on February 15, 2010.
Russia: On April 9, 2009, the Chief Medical Officer of the Russian Federation issued a resolution on reinforcing control over the sales of smoking blends. These blends, marketed under the trade names AM-HI-CO, Dream, Spice (Gold, Diamond), Zoom, Ex-ses, Yucatán Fire and others have been declared to contain Salvia divinorum
, Hawaiian Wood Rose and Blue Lotus and are prohibited to be sold. These substances have been found to have "psychotropic, narcotic effects, contain poisonous components and represent potential threat for humans". The resolution does not mention JWH-018 or other synthetic cannabinoids. On January 14, 2010, the Russian government issued a statement including 23 synthetic cannabinoids found in smoking blends Hawaiian Rose and Blue Lotus on the list of prohibited narcotic and psychotropic substances. Thus, all of these plants and compounds are now illegal in the Russian Federation.
Slovakia: Spice is legal in Slovakia. The National Anti-Drug Unit is considering adding it to the list of controlled substances. The latest anti-drug law version (468/2009) valid since January 2010 still does not mention active compounds of Spice.
Sweden: CP 47,497-C6, CP 47,497-C7, CP 47,497-C8, CP 47,497-C9, JWH-018
, JWH-073
and HU-210
were all made illegal in Sweden on September 15, 2009. The bill was accepted on July 30, 2009 and was put in effect on September 15, 2009.
Switzerland: Spice has been banned in Switzerland.
United Kingdom: Spice was legal in the United Kingdom until December 2009, when it was classified as a Class B drug.
on April 24, 2009 declared the sale of synthetic cannabis to be illegal.
Japan: Japan has banned JWH-018, CP 47, 497, and homologues, and HU-210 since Oct. 2009
New Zealand: Spice is illegal in New Zealand, it is classified as a Class C controlled drug. Kronic is widely available in dairies
and is not illegal.
Health Canada
is debating on the subject.
) are currently scheduled
in the USA under federal law while others (JWH-073
) have been temporarily scheduled until final determination of their status can be made. The Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) considers it to be a "drug of concern", citing "...a surge in emergency-room visits and calls to poison-control centers. Adverse health effects associated with its use include seizures, hallucinations, paranoid behavior, agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, racing heartbeat and elevated blood pressure."
Several states independently passed acts making it illegal under state law, including Kansas
in March 2010, Georgia
and Alabama
in May 2010, Tennessee
and Missouri
in July 2010, Louisiana
in August 2010, and Mississippi
in September 2010. An emergency order was passed in Arkansas
in July 2010, banning the sale of synthetic cannabis. In October 2010, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy listed synthetic cannabinoid chemicals on its Schedule 1 of controlled substance, which means that the sale and possession of these substances is illegal under the Oregon Uniform Controlled Substances Act. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures
, several other states are also considering legislation, including Michigan
, New Jersey
, New York, Florida, Indiana
, and Ohio
. Illinois passed a law on July 27, 2010 banning all synthetic cannabinoids that goes into effect January 1, 2011.
Michigan banned synthetic cannabinoids in October 2010
Following cases in Japan involving the use of synthetic cannabis by Navy, Army and Marine Corps personnel resulted in the official banning of it, a punitive general order issued on January 4, 2010 by the Commander Marine Corps Forces, Pacific prohibits the actual or attempted possession, use, sale, distribution or manufacture of synthetic cannabis as well as any derivative, analogue or variant of it. On June 8, 2010, the U.S. Air Force issued a memorandum that banned the possession and use of Spice, or any other mood-altering substance except alcohol or tobacco, among its service members.
On November 24, 2010, the DEA announced that it would make JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497 and cannabicyclohexanol, which are often found in synthetic cannabis, illegal using emergency powers. They will be placed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, within a month of the announcement, and the ban will last for at least a year. The temporary ban, for at least a year, came in to effect on March 1, 2011.
On October 20, 2011, the Louisiana State University football program
announced that it had suspended three players who tested positive for synthetic cannabis.
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
. It is best known by the brand names K2 and Spice, both of which have largely become genericized trademark
Genericized trademark
A genericized trademark is a trademark or brand name that has become the colloquial or generic description for, or synonymous with, a general class of product or service, rather than as an indicator of source or affiliation as intended by the trademark's holder...
s used to refer to any synthetic cannabis product. (It is also for this reason that synthetic cannabis is often referred to as spice product, due to the latter.) A type of synthetic cannabis sold in Australasia is known as Kronic.
When synthetic cannabis blends first went on sale in the early 2000s it was thought that they achieved an effect through a mixture of legal herbs. Laboratory analysis in 2008 showed this was not the case and that they in fact contained synthetic cannabinoids which act on the body in a similar way to cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis, such as THC
THC
THC commonly refers to tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active chemical compound in Cannabis.THC may also refer to:* Tan Holdings Corporation...
. A large and complex variety of synthetic cannabinoids, most often cannabicyclohexanol
Cannabicyclohexanol
Cannabicyclohexanol is a cannabinoid receptor agonist drug, developed by Pfizer in 1979...
, JWH-018
JWH-018
JWH-018 or AM-678 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a full agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, with some selectivity for CB2...
, JWH-073
JWH-073
JWH-073 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a partial agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. It is somewhat selective for the CB1 subtype, with affinity at this subtype approximately 5x the affinity at CB2. The abbreviation JWH stands for John W...
, or HU-210
HU-210
HU-210 is a synthetic cannabinoid that was first synthesized in 1988 from -Myrtenol by the group led by Professor Raphael Mechoulam at the Hebrew University. HU-210 is 100 to 800 times more potent than natural THC from cannabis and has an extended duration of action...
, are used in an attempt to avoid the laws which make cannabis illegal, making synthetic cannabis a designer drug
Designer drug
Designer drug is a term used to describe drugs that are created to get around existing drug laws, usually by preparing analogs or derivatives of existing drugs by modifying their chemical structure to varying degrees, or less commonly by finding drugs with entirely different chemical structures...
. It has been sold under various brand names, online, in head shop
Head shop
A head shop is a retail outlet specializing in drug paraphernalia used for consumption of cannabis, other recreational drugs, legal highs, legal party powders and New Age herbs, as well as counterculture art, magazines, music, clothing, and home decor; some head shops also sell oddities, such as...
s and at some gas stations.
It is often marketed as "herbal incense
Incense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...
"; however, some brands market their products as "herbal smoking blends". In either case the products are usually smoked by users. Although synthetic cannabis does not produce positive results in drug test
Drug test
A drug test is a technical analysis of a biological specimen – for example urine, hair, blood, sweat, or oral fluid / saliva – to determine the presence or absence of specified parent drugs or their metabolites...
s for cannabis, it is possible to detect its metabolites in human urine. The synthetic cannabinoids contained in synthetic cannabis products have been made illegal in many European countries. On November 24, 2010, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency announced it would use emergency powers to ban many synthetic cannabinoids within a month . Prior to the announcement, several US states had already made them illegal under state law. As of March 1, 2011, five cannabinoids, JWH-018
JWH-018
JWH-018 or AM-678 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a full agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, with some selectivity for CB2...
, JWH-073
JWH-073
JWH-073 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a partial agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. It is somewhat selective for the CB1 subtype, with affinity at this subtype approximately 5x the affinity at CB2. The abbreviation JWH stands for John W...
, CP-47,497, JWH-200
JWH-200
JWH-200 is an analgesic chemical from the aminoalkylindole family, which acts as a cannabinoid receptor agonist. Its binding affinity at the CB1 receptor is 42nM, around the same as that of THC, but its analgesic potency in vivo was higher than that of other analogues with stronger CB1 binding...
, and cannabicyclohexanol
Cannabicyclohexanol
Cannabicyclohexanol is a cannabinoid receptor agonist drug, developed by Pfizer in 1979...
are now illegal in the US.
History
According to the Psychonaut Web Mapping Research Project, synthetic cannabis products, sold under the brand name Spice first appeared in Europe in 2004. The brand "Spice" was released in 2004 by the now dormant company The Psyche Deli in London, UK. In 2006 the brand gained popularity. According to the Financial TimesFinancial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
the assets of The Psyche Deli rose from £65,000 in 2006 to £899,000 in 2007. The EMCDDA reported in 2009 that ‘Spice’ products were identified in 21 of the 30 participating countries. Because 'Spice' was the dominant brand until 2009, the competing brands that started to appear from 2008 on, were also dubbed 'Spice'. Spice can therefore relate to both the brand 'Spice', as to all herbal blends with synthetic cannabinoids added. A survey of readers of Mixmag
Mixmag
Mixmag is a British dance music and clubbing magazine. It styles itself as "the world's biggest selling dance music magazine", with an Audit Bureau of Circulations audited circulation of approximately 21,250...
in the UK in 2009, found that one in eight respondents had used synthetic cannabis, compared to 85% who had used cannabis.
Ingredients
Synthetic cannabis is claimed by the manufacturers to contain a mixture of traditionally used medicinal herbs, each of which supposedly produces mild effects with the overall blend resulting in the cannabis-like intoxication produced by the product. Herbs listed on the packaging of Spice include Canavalia maritimaCanavalia rosea
Canavalia rosea is a species of flowering plant of the genus Canavalia in the pea family, Fabaceae, that has a pantropical distribution. Common names include Beach Bean, Bay Bean, Seaside Jack-bean, Coastal Jack-bean, and MacKenzie Bean.- Description :Coastal Jack-bean is a trailing, herbaceous...
, Nymphaea caerulea
Nymphaea caerulea
Nymphaea caerulea, also known as the Blue Egyptian water lily or sacred blue lily, is a water-lily in the genus Nymphaea.-Distribution:Its original habitat may have been along the Nile and other locations in East Africa...
, Scutellaria nana
Scutellaria nana
Scutellaria nana is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name dwarf skullcap or dwarf scullcap. It is native to the western United States, especially in and around the Great Basin. It grows in plateau scrub, often on volcanic soils. It is a small perennial herb...
, Pedicularis densiflora
Pedicularis densiflora
Pedicularis densiflora, known commonly as Indian warrior, is a plant of the lousewort genus in the broomrape family. It is a perennial herb with stout, green or sometimes reddish or magenta stems and fern-shaped leaves, and long spikes of deep red to bright pink flowers with toothed...
, Leonotis leonurus
Leonotis leonurus
Leonotis leonurus, also known as Lion's Tail and Wild Dagga, is a plant species in the Lamiaceae family. The plant is a broadleaf evergreen large shrub native to South Africa and southern Africa, where it is very common. It is known for its medicinal and mild psychoactive...
, Zornia latifolia
Zornia latifolia
Zornia latifolia is a perennial herb, with little yellow flowers. And, its stem is 20 to 50 cm long, glabrous or pubescent, with a prostrate growth habit and intense branching....
, Nelumbo nucifera
Nelumbo nucifera
Nelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names including Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus, Bean of India, or simply Lotus, is a plant in the monogeneric family Nelumbonaceae...
and Leonurus sibiricus
Leonurus sibiricus
Leonurus sibiricus, commonly called Honeyweed or Siberian motherwort, is an herbaceous plant species native to central and Southwest Asia, including China, Mongolia, and Russia...
. However, when the product was analyzed by laboratories in Germany and elsewhere, it was found that many of the characteristic "fingerprint" molecules expected to be present from the claimed plant ingredients were not present. There were also large amounts of synthetic tocopherol
Tocopherol
Tocopherols are a class of chemical compounds of which many have vitamin E activity. It is a series of organic compounds consisting of various methylated phenols...
present. This suggested that the actual ingredients might not be the same as what was listed on the packet, and a German government risk assessment of the product conducted in November 2008 concluded that it was unclear what the actual plant ingredients were, where the synthetic tocopherol had come from, and whether the subjective cannabis-like effects were actually produced by any of the claimed plant ingredients or instead might possibly be caused by a synthetic cannabinoid drug.
Synthetic cannabinoid ingredients
In January 2009, researchers at the University of FreiburgUniversity of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
in Germany announced that an active substance in Spice was an undisclosed analogue
Analog (chemistry)
In chemistry, a structural analog , also known as chemical analog or simply analog, is a compound having a structure similar to that of another one, but differing from it in respect of a certain component. It can differ in one or more atoms, functional groups, or substructures, which are replaced...
of the synthetic cannabinoid CP 47,497
CP 47,497
CP 47,497 is a cannabinoid receptor agonist drug, developed by Pfizer in the 1980s. It has analgesic effects and is used in scientific research...
. Later that month, CP 47,497 along with its dimethylhexyl, dimethyloctyl and dimethylnonyl homologues
Homology (chemistry)
In chemistry, homology refers to the appearance of homologues. A homologue is a compound belonging to a series of compounds differing from each other by a repeating unit, such as a methylene group, a peptide residue, etcetera....
, were added to the German controlled drug schedules. In May the analogue of CP 47,497
CP 47,497
CP 47,497 is a cannabinoid receptor agonist drug, developed by Pfizer in the 1980s. It has analgesic effects and is used in scientific research...
was named cannabicyclohexanol
Cannabicyclohexanol
Cannabicyclohexanol is a cannabinoid receptor agonist drug, developed by Pfizer in 1979...
.
In July 2010, it was announced that JWH-018
JWH-018
JWH-018 or AM-678 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a full agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, with some selectivity for CB2...
is one of the active components in at least three versions of Spice, which had been sold in a number of countries around the world since 2002, often marketed as incense. Another potent synthetic cannabinoid, HU-210
HU-210
HU-210 is a synthetic cannabinoid that was first synthesized in 1988 from -Myrtenol by the group led by Professor Raphael Mechoulam at the Hebrew University. HU-210 is 100 to 800 times more potent than natural THC from cannabis and has an extended duration of action...
, has been reported to have been found in Spice seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the...
. An analysis of samples acquired four weeks after the German prohibition of JWH-018 took place found that the compound had been replaced with JWH-073
JWH-073
JWH-073 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a partial agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. It is somewhat selective for the CB1 subtype, with affinity at this subtype approximately 5x the affinity at CB2. The abbreviation JWH stands for John W...
.
Different ratios of JWH-018 and CP 47,497 and their analogues have been found in different brands of synthetic cannabis and manufacturers constantly change the composition of their products. The amount of JWH-018 in Spice has been found to vary from 0.2% to 3%.
An analysis of 41 different synthetic cannabis blends sold commercially in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, conducted by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research
Institute of Environmental Science and Research
The Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited is a Crown Research Institute in New Zealand.ESR's work underpins the health and justice systems in New Zealand by providing services in environmental health and forensic science....
and released in July 2011, found 11 different synthetic cannabinoid ingredients used: including JWH-018
JWH-018
JWH-018 or AM-678 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a full agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, with some selectivity for CB2...
, JWH-073
JWH-073
JWH-073 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a partial agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. It is somewhat selective for the CB1 subtype, with affinity at this subtype approximately 5x the affinity at CB2. The abbreviation JWH stands for John W...
, AM-694
AM-694
AM-694 is a drug which acts as a potent and selective agonist for the cannabinoid receptor CB1, with a Ki of 0.08nM at CB1 and 18x selectivity over the related CB2 receptor....
, AM-2201
AM-2201
AM-2201 discovered by Chemist Tyler Merrill, is a drug which acts as a potent but unselective agonist for the cannabinoid receptor CB1, with a Ki of 1.0nM at CB1 and 2.6nM at CB2...
, RCS-4
RCS-4
RCS-4, or 1-pentyl-3-indole, is a synthetic cannabinoid drug sold under the names SR-19, BTM-4, or Eric-4 , but originally, OBT-199. As with all other research chemicals, human use is not encouraged or recommended...
, RCS-4 butyl homologue, JWH-210
JWH-210
JWH-210 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a potent cannabinoid agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, with Ki values of 0.46nM at CB1 and 0.69nM at CB2. It is one of the most potent 4-substituted naphthoyl derivatives in the naphthoylindole series, having a...
, JWH-081
JWH-081
JWH-081 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a cannabinoid agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 receptors. With a Ki of 1.2nM it is fairly selective for the CB1 subtype, its affinity at this subtype approximately 10x the affinity at CB2. It was discovered by and named...
, JWH-250
JWH-250
JWH-250 or is an analgesic chemical from the phenylacetylindole family, which acts as a cannabinoid agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, with a Ki of 11nM at CB1 and 33nM at CB2...
(or possibly JWH-302
JWH-302
JWH-302 or is an analgesic chemical from the phenylacetylindole family, which acts as a cannabinoid agonist with moderate affinity at both the CB1 and CB2 receptors. It is a positional isomer of the more common drug JWH-250, though it is slightly less potent with a Ki of 17nM at CB1, compared to...
, isomer not determined), JWH-203
JWH-203
JWH-203 is an analgesic chemical from the phenylacetylindole family, which acts as a cannabinoid agonist with approximately equal affinity at both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, having a Ki of 8.0nM at CB1 and 7.0nM at CB2...
and JWH-122
JWH-122
JWH-122 is a synthetic cannabimimetic that was discovered by John W. Huffman. It has a Ki of 0.69 nM at CB1 and 1.2 nM at CB2....
—with between one and five different active ingredients, though JWH-018 was present in 37 of the 41 blends tested. In two brands the benzodiazepine
Benzodiazepine
A benzodiazepine is a psychoactive drug whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring...
anxiolytic
Anxiolytic
An anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...
drug phenazepam
Phenazepam
Phenazepam is a benzodiazepine drug, which was developed in the Soviet Union and now produced in Russia and some CIS countries. Phenazepam is used in the treatment of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, alcohol withdrawal syndrome and insomnia...
was also found, which is classified as a prescription medicine in New Zealand, and so these brands were ordered to be removed from the market by emergency recall.
| Name | Structure | Binding affinity for the CB1 receptor Cannabinoid receptor type 1 The cannabinoid receptor type 1, often abbreviated to CB1, is a G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptor located in the brain. It is activated by endocannabinoid neurotransmitters including anandamide and by the compound THC, found in the psychoactive drug cannabis.-Expression:The CB1 receptor is... |
Binding affinity for the CB2 receptor |
|---|---|---|---|
| THC THC THC commonly refers to tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active chemical compound in Cannabis.THC may also refer to:* Tan Holdings Corporation... |
 |
Ki = 40.7±1.7 nm | Ki = 36.4±10 nm |
| Cannabicyclohexanol Cannabicyclohexanol Cannabicyclohexanol is a cannabinoid receptor agonist drug, developed by Pfizer in 1979... |
Ki = unknown. Reported to be 5 times more potent than THC, based on physiological responses in rats | ||
| HU-210 HU-210 HU-210 is a synthetic cannabinoid that was first synthesized in 1988 from -Myrtenol by the group led by Professor Raphael Mechoulam at the Hebrew University. HU-210 is 100 to 800 times more potent than natural THC from cannabis and has an extended duration of action... |
Ki = 234 pM (100–800 times more potent) | ||
| JWH-018 JWH-018 JWH-018 or AM-678 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a full agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, with some selectivity for CB2... |
Ki = 9.00±5.00 nm | Ki = 2.94±2.65 nm | |
| JWH-073 JWH-073 JWH-073 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a partial agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. It is somewhat selective for the CB1 subtype, with affinity at this subtype approximately 5x the affinity at CB2. The abbreviation JWH stands for John W... |
Ki = 8.90±1.80 nm | Ki = 38.0±24.0 nm | |
| AM-2201 AM-2201 AM-2201 discovered by Chemist Tyler Merrill, is a drug which acts as a potent but unselective agonist for the cannabinoid receptor CB1, with a Ki of 1.0nM at CB1 and 2.6nM at CB2... |
Ki = 1.0 nM | Ki = 2.6 nM |
Safety
No official studies have been conducted on its effects on humans. Though its effects are not well documented, extremely large doses may cause negative effects that are generally not noted in marijuana users, such as increased agitation and vomiting. Professor John W. HuffmanJohn W. Huffman
John William Huffman is a professor emeritus of organic chemistry at Clemson University who first synthesised many novel cannabinoids, including JWH-007, JWH-015, JWH-018, JWH-019, JWH-030, JWH-051, JWH-073, JWH-081, JWH-122, JWH-133, JWH-147, JWH-171, JWH-182, JWH-203, JWH-210, JWH-250, JWH-307,...
, who first synthesised many of the cannabinoids
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are a class of chemical compounds that include the phytocannabinoids , and chemical compounds that mimic the actions of phytocannabinoids or have a similar structure...
used in synthetic cannabis, is quoted as saying, "People who use it are idiots." "You don't know what it's going to do to you." A user who consumed 3 g of Spice Gold every day for several months showed withdrawal
Withdrawal syndrome
A withdrawal syndrome, also called a discontinuation syndrome, occurs when a person suddenly stops taking or reduces the dosage of some types of medications...
symptoms, similar to those associated with withdrawing from the use of narcotics. Doctors treating the user also noted that his use of the product showed signs associated with addiction. One case has been reported where a user, who had previously suffered from cannabis induced recurrent psychotic episodes, suffered reactivation of their symptoms after using Spice. Psychiatrists treating him have suggested that the lack of an antipsychotic
Antipsychotic
An antipsychotic is a tranquilizing psychiatric medication primarily used to manage psychosis , particularly in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. A first generation of antipsychotics, known as typical antipsychotics, was discovered in the 1950s...
chemical, similar to cannabidiol
Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid found in Cannabis. It is a major constituent of the plant, representing up to 40% in its extracts.It has displayed sedative effects in animal tests...
found in natural cannabis, may make synthetic cannabis more likely to induce psychosis than natural cannabis.
Drug testing
Spice does not cause a positive drug testDrug test
A drug test is a technical analysis of a biological specimen – for example urine, hair, blood, sweat, or oral fluid / saliva – to determine the presence or absence of specified parent drugs or their metabolites...
for cannabis or other illegal drugs using GC-MS-screening with library search, multi-target screening by LC-MS/MS
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry is an analytical chemistry technique that combines the physical separation capabilities of liquid chromatography with the mass analysis capabilities of mass spectrometry. LC-MS is a powerful technique used for many applications which has very high...
, or immunological screening procedures. A study has been conducted into the detection of metabolites of JWH-018 in urine; the metabolites are mainly conjugates with glucuronic acid
Glucuronic acid
Glucuronic acid is a carboxylic acid. Its structure is similar to that of glucose. However, glucuronic acid's sixth carbon is oxidized to a carboxylic acid...
and can be reliably detected by GC–MS/MS and LC–MS/MS.
Europe
Austria: The Austrian Ministry of Health announced on December 18, 2008 that Spice would be controlled under Paragraph 78 of their drug law on the grounds that it contains an active substance which affects the functions of the body, and the legality of JWH-018 is under review.Germany: JWH-018, CP 47,497 and the C6, C8 and C9 homologues of CP 47,497 are illegal in Germany since January 22, 2009.
Finland: Spice blends are classified as a medicine in Finland and therefore it is illegal to order them without a prescription. In practice it is not possible to get a prescription.
France: JWH-018, CP 47,497 (and its homologues) and HU-210 were all made illegal in France on February 24, 2009.
Ireland: From June 2010, JWH-018, along with a variety of other designer drugs are illegal.
Latvia: JWH-018, JWH-073, CP 47,497 (and its homologues) and HU-210 are all banned in Latvia as well as leonotis leonurus.
Poland: JWH-018
JWH-018
JWH-018 or AM-678 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a full agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, with some selectivity for CB2...
and many of the herbs mentioned on the ingredient lists of Spice and similar preparations were made illegal in May 2009. The bill was passed by Polish Sejm, Polish Senat and was signed by the President.
Romania: Spice was made illegal in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
on February 15, 2010.
Russia: On April 9, 2009, the Chief Medical Officer of the Russian Federation issued a resolution on reinforcing control over the sales of smoking blends. These blends, marketed under the trade names AM-HI-CO, Dream, Spice (Gold, Diamond), Zoom, Ex-ses, Yucatán Fire and others have been declared to contain Salvia divinorum
Salvia divinorum
Salvia divinorum is a psychoactive plant which can induce dissociative effects and is a potent producer of "visions" and other hallucinatory experiences...
, Hawaiian Wood Rose and Blue Lotus and are prohibited to be sold. These substances have been found to have "psychotropic, narcotic effects, contain poisonous components and represent potential threat for humans". The resolution does not mention JWH-018 or other synthetic cannabinoids. On January 14, 2010, the Russian government issued a statement including 23 synthetic cannabinoids found in smoking blends Hawaiian Rose and Blue Lotus on the list of prohibited narcotic and psychotropic substances. Thus, all of these plants and compounds are now illegal in the Russian Federation.
Slovakia: Spice is legal in Slovakia. The National Anti-Drug Unit is considering adding it to the list of controlled substances. The latest anti-drug law version (468/2009) valid since January 2010 still does not mention active compounds of Spice.
Sweden: CP 47,497-C6, CP 47,497-C7, CP 47,497-C8, CP 47,497-C9, JWH-018
JWH-018
JWH-018 or AM-678 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a full agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, with some selectivity for CB2...
, JWH-073
JWH-073
JWH-073 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a partial agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. It is somewhat selective for the CB1 subtype, with affinity at this subtype approximately 5x the affinity at CB2. The abbreviation JWH stands for John W...
and HU-210
HU-210
HU-210 is a synthetic cannabinoid that was first synthesized in 1988 from -Myrtenol by the group led by Professor Raphael Mechoulam at the Hebrew University. HU-210 is 100 to 800 times more potent than natural THC from cannabis and has an extended duration of action...
were all made illegal in Sweden on September 15, 2009. The bill was accepted on July 30, 2009 and was put in effect on September 15, 2009.
Switzerland: Spice has been banned in Switzerland.
United Kingdom: Spice was legal in the United Kingdom until December 2009, when it was classified as a Class B drug.
South America
Chile: The Chilean Ministry of HealthMinistry of Health (Chile)
The Ministry of Health of Chile , also known as MINSAL, is the cabinet-level administrative office in charge of planning, directing, coordinating, executing, controlling and informing the public health policies formulated by the President of Chile...
on April 24, 2009 declared the sale of synthetic cannabis to be illegal.
Asia
South Korea: South Korea officially added JWH-018, CP 47,497 and HU-210 to the controlled substance list on July 1, 2009, effectively making these chemicals illegal.Japan: Japan has banned JWH-018, CP 47, 497, and homologues, and HU-210 since Oct. 2009
Australasia
Australia: A variety of synthetic cannabis called Kronic is available in Australia and, , is not illegal. However, on June 13, 2011, the Western Australian state government made the decision to place a ban on any products containing synthetic cannabinoids, including brands such as Kronic, Kalma, Voodoo, Kaos and Mango Kush, effective from Friday the June 17, 2011. This makes Western Australia the first state in Australia to make the synthetic cannabis containing products illegal. The sale of synthetic cannabis will be banned in the state of NSW from July 1, with retailers required to arrange for destruction of any unsold quantities after that date. A ban on the use of synthetic cannabis will come into effect on the July 8, 2011, under current legislation.New Zealand: Spice is illegal in New Zealand, it is classified as a Class C controlled drug. Kronic is widely available in dairies
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
and is not illegal.
Canada
Spice and specific forms of JWHxxx are not specifically prohibited in Canada, but synthetic cannabis is listed as a schedule II drug.Health Canada
Health Canada
Health Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health.The current Minister of Health is Leona Aglukkaq, a Conservative Member of Parliament appointed to the position by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.-Branches, regions and agencies:Health Canada...
is debating on the subject.
United States
Some compounds within synthetic cannabis (HU-210HU-210
HU-210 is a synthetic cannabinoid that was first synthesized in 1988 from -Myrtenol by the group led by Professor Raphael Mechoulam at the Hebrew University. HU-210 is 100 to 800 times more potent than natural THC from cannabis and has an extended duration of action...
) are currently scheduled
Controlled Substances Act
The Controlled Substances Act was enacted into law by the Congress of the United States as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. The CSA is the federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain...
in the USA under federal law while others (JWH-073
JWH-073
JWH-073 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family, which acts as a partial agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. It is somewhat selective for the CB1 subtype, with affinity at this subtype approximately 5x the affinity at CB2. The abbreviation JWH stands for John W...
) have been temporarily scheduled until final determination of their status can be made. The Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
(DEA) considers it to be a "drug of concern", citing "...a surge in emergency-room visits and calls to poison-control centers. Adverse health effects associated with its use include seizures, hallucinations, paranoid behavior, agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, racing heartbeat and elevated blood pressure."
Several states independently passed acts making it illegal under state law, including Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
in March 2010, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
in May 2010, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in July 2010, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in August 2010, and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
in September 2010. An emergency order was passed in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
in July 2010, banning the sale of synthetic cannabis. In October 2010, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy listed synthetic cannabinoid chemicals on its Schedule 1 of controlled substance, which means that the sale and possession of these substances is illegal under the Oregon Uniform Controlled Substances Act. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
, several other states are also considering legislation, including Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, New York, Florida, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Illinois passed a law on July 27, 2010 banning all synthetic cannabinoids that goes into effect January 1, 2011.
Michigan banned synthetic cannabinoids in October 2010
Following cases in Japan involving the use of synthetic cannabis by Navy, Army and Marine Corps personnel resulted in the official banning of it, a punitive general order issued on January 4, 2010 by the Commander Marine Corps Forces, Pacific prohibits the actual or attempted possession, use, sale, distribution or manufacture of synthetic cannabis as well as any derivative, analogue or variant of it. On June 8, 2010, the U.S. Air Force issued a memorandum that banned the possession and use of Spice, or any other mood-altering substance except alcohol or tobacco, among its service members.
On November 24, 2010, the DEA announced that it would make JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497 and cannabicyclohexanol, which are often found in synthetic cannabis, illegal using emergency powers. They will be placed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, within a month of the announcement, and the ban will last for at least a year. The temporary ban, for at least a year, came in to effect on March 1, 2011.
On October 20, 2011, the Louisiana State University football program
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
announced that it had suspended three players who tested positive for synthetic cannabis.
External links
- Erowid
- Synthetic cannabinoid profile European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug AddictionEuropean Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug AddictionThe European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction is an agency of the European Union. Established in 1993, the EMCDDA is located in Lisbon, Portugal.-Mission and role:...