What Are The Effects Of Synthetic Cannabis, And Why Is It Harmful?
Cannabis is well known, a drug whose legal status is quite varied depending on the country where we go, but in most cases it is known that it can cause problems for the mental health of its user, at least in the long term.
There is an alternative to cannabis that is presented as a harmless, legal and natural variant of this substance, despite the fact that it is the product of laboratories of dubious safety: synthetic cannabis
If conventional marijuana has already been attributed a certain relationship with schizophrenia, the case of synthetic cannabis is even more serious given its high THC content. Below we are going to delve deeper into what this substance is, what its effects are and the link it has with psychotic outbreaks and schizophrenia.
Synthetic cannabis, more appropriately known as a group of drugs called synthetic cannabinoids, are artificial chemical compounds that cause psychoactive effects similar to those produced by natural cannabis. These chemicals are sprayed on the dried, crushed matter of a plant and then smoked, although It can also be found in the form of liquids that are vaporized and inhaled in electronic cigarettes (vape) or other devices.
There are multiple names by which synthetic cannabis is known in the market, including synthetic marijuana, fake weed, Pescao, K2, hardcore, Spice Gold, Spice Silver and Yucatan fire. Whatever its commercial name, the truth is that in most cases synthetic cannabis is presented as a supposedly legal and harmless alternative to conventional marijuana, although the reality is that it is a much more dangerous and potentially addictive and deadly substance..
The reason synthetic cannabis is so dangerous has to do with its composition. It is a laboratory substance, made with a high content of artificial THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the “bad” substance in marijuana, the one that induces harmful psychoactive effects; and zero content of cannabidiol (CBD), the cannabis substance that has therapeutic and neuroprotective properties.
In other words, synthetic cannabis has the bad things about conventional marijuana in large quantities, artificially, and absolutely none of the minimally good things that the plant has.
Synthetic cannabis is part of the group of drugs known as “new psychoactive substances.” These are mind-altering substances, like conventional psychoactive drugs do, but Being so new there are still no clear regulations on them They have recently appeared on the market, and their purpose is to cause the same effects as illegal drugs.
The misleading presentation of this drug
The trade in synthetic cannabis is made possible by misleading presentation. Packages with this drug are often labeled “not for human consumption,” even though that is precisely why it is sold and purchased.
In addition, the same packaging also indicates that it contains “natural” material, extracted from various plants; However, the marijuana plant is not one of them. What these packets actually contain are other dried plant matter that has been sprayed with a lab-made cannabinoid
Once upon a time, it was relatively easy to purchase synthetic cannabis through various means, including novelty stores, gas stations, Asian bazaars, or the Internet.
Synthetic cannabinoids involve more risks than benefits, have no known medical benefits and have a high potential for abuse, which is why their purchase, sale and possession are illegal in many countries. However, manufacturers try to circumvent the laws by changing their chemical formulas and marketing the new substance taking advantage of the legal loophole.
Obtaining synthetic cannabis is relatively easy, regardless of how illegal it may be. People who buy this substance do so thinking that they are really buying a “natural” substance, believing that it is real marijuana that they acquire or some type of essential oil derived from the plant. Another reason why synthetic cannabis is purchased is that it is not easily detected in many traditional drug tests.
Although it is an artificially created substance, synthetic cannabis has effects that resemble those of conventional cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids act on the same neuron receptors for THC the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
It should be said that synthetic cannabis has not yet been sufficiently studied due to its recent consumption and, also, because it is a drug whose formula is modified very frequently.
However, it is known that synthetic cannabis has more powerful effects than conventional marijuana because Synthetic cannabinoids bind strongly to THC receptors in neurons This brings with it more serious, dangerous and unpredictable consequences than those of marijuana.
Added to this, as the chemical composition of batches of synthetic cannabis is variable, its effects are also different. One batch of synthetic cannabis can produce different effects than another batch, which is why we say the effects of this substance are so unpredictable.
Among the most common effects manifested by those who consume synthetic cannabinoids, we find some similar to those of conventional marijuana:
Other effects that synthetic cannabinoids have, more unpleasant and considered by their consumers as Adverse effects are:
Synthetic cannabis is very addictive Those who consume it regularly but try to stop using it may experience a very unpleasant withdrawal syndrome characterized by the following symptoms:
Headaches
Anxiety
Depression
Irritability
And although its merchants say otherwise, Synthetic cannabis is extremely dangerous, with the risk of overdose This would occur when the user takes too much of this drug, suffering a dangerous reaction that would lead to very harmful or even lethal symptoms.
Among the potentially dangerous effects of synthetic cannabis we find:
Increased blood pressure
Reduced blood flow to the heart
Dysrhythmia (alteration of heartbeat)
Renal insufficiency
Liver failure
Myocardial infarction
Seizures
Hypothermia
Death
Related article: “What is cannabinoid hyperemesis, the cannabis vomiting disease”
Relationship with psychosis and schizophrenia
Multiple psychotic symptoms have been reported with the consumption of synthetic cannabis among them:
Perceptual alterations
Delusions
Paranoia
Catatonia
Depersonalization
Dissociation
Auditory and visual hallucinations
Psychoses induced by the ingestion of synthetic cannabis affect the user’s mental health in the long term. The degree of affectation of the patient who consumes this substance will depend greatly on his age, family history, psychiatric predisposition, history of childhood abuse and genetic factors.
Male and young users of synthetic cannabis are believed to be more likely to report psychotic symptoms compared to those who take marijuana Psychosis can occur even without a history of mental disorder and is considered a risk factor for developing schizophrenia.
Several neurophysiological studies have found similarities between the neurological alterations that occur in schizophrenia and psychotic breaks and those induced by synthetic cannabis. There are more cases of psychotic breaks among those who consume synthetic cannabinoids than those who take “natural” cannabis The use of synthetic cannabis is associated with a greater probability of ending up requiring pharmacological treatment with antipsychotics compared to those who take conventional marijuana.
