It is known that cannabis can be the cause of several mental health problems for its users, especially if they take it frequently and their age of onset was adolescence.
Although the marijuana plant is still a drug, there is an artificial version that, despite being presented as a legal, harmless and natural alternative to that plant, the truth is that it is the product of clandestine laboratories with very negligent hygiene..
Here you will find a summary of the characteristics of synthetic cannabis, although we can anticipate that all of them imply a greater risk and potential for addiction than conventional marijuana. Let’s discover them below.
The most important characteristics of synthetic cannabis
Synthetic cannabis, more correctly called synthetic cannabinoids, is about artificial chemical compounds whose psychoactive effects are similar to those produced by natural cannabis (Cannabis sativa). These chemicals are sprayed on dried and crushed plant matter and then smoked, although they can also be found in the form of liquids for electronic cigarettes or even to prepare infusions.
Synthetic cannabis goes by all kinds of names in the specialized market: synthetic marijuana, fake weed, Spice Gold, Spice Silver, Pescao, K2, hardcore and Yucatan fire. Regardless of the name under which it is purchased, in most cases synthetic cannabis is presented as a supposedly legal and healthy alternative to conventional marijuana, even more “natural.” The reality is quite the opposite: it is much more dangerous, addictive and potentially deadly than the real cannabis plant.
There are several characteristics of synthetic cannabis that clearly differentiate it from conventional marijuana.
The main reason why synthetic cannabis is so dangerous is its composition. Although it is marketed as a healthy and natural alternative to marijuana, there is nothing natural about it. It is a laboratory substance, made with a high content of artificial THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).
THC is the “bad” substance in marijuana, responsible for the harmful psychoactive effects. Furthermore, it is also this component that makes synthetic cannabis more addictive than the natural marijuana plant. Added to this, contains zero cannabidiol or CBD, the “good” substance in marijuana to which therapeutic and neuroprotective properties are attributed.
This means that synthetic marijuana has everything bad about cannabis and none of the medicinal properties that have become popular in recent years. Because of this, synthetic cannabis is extremely neurotoxic.
2. Unstable and slippery formula in drug tests
Synthetic cannabis is categorized in the group of drugs known as “new psychoactive substances.” These are mind-altering substances, like conventional drugs, but since they are very new, there are still no clear regulations on them. Due to this, its consumption goes unnoticed given that there are few specific tests to detect synthetic cannabis in drug analysis.
Added to this, There is no single formula for synthetic cannabinoids Every time the authorities register a form of synthetic cannabis as illegal, manufacturers change the formula and, taking advantage of a legal loophole, sell it. As the new formula remains unregistered due to the authorities’ ignorance, its sale does not yet constitute a crime and the sellers profit from it.
Thanks to this, synthetic cannabis is relatively easy to obtain online, and can even be obtained at gas stations or drug paraphernalia stores in depending on which countries. It is precisely this ease with which they can be obtained that, added to the belief that they are “natural” and, therefore, harmless, Its consumption among young people has skyrocketed in the last decade
3. Consumption similar to that of conventional marijuana
The most common way to take synthetic cannabinoids is smoking dried plant matter that has been sprayed with this substance This dry plant matter is, sometimes, mixed with a little real marijuana, usually to make the person who is going to smoke that “joint” believe that they are smoking pure marijuana and give it a try.
There are also the options of making a tea with dried leaves sprinkled with this substance or buying synthetic cannabinoids in liquid format and vaping it.
4. Desired effects similar to natural cannabis
This drug is known as synthetic cannabis because it causes desirable effects similar to those of the “natural” drug. Synthetic cannabinoids act on the same neuron receptors for THC, which is the main psychoactive substance in the cannabis plant. This is, along with the false belief that it is a real derivative of marijuana or an essential oil of it the main reason why they are consumed.
Among these “desirable” effects we would have:
But it also shares with real marijuana several common effects that They are not so pleasant, although not serious as:
Agitation
Nausea and vomiting
Increased heart rate
Violent behavior
Suicidal ideation
Tachycardia
Arrhythmia
Related article: “How to stop smoking joints? 5 tips from a specialist”
5. Many serious adverse effects
Synthetic cannabis is an illicitly produced drug that does not comply with any health control Unlike what its consumers believe, it is not a natural drug and, even if it were, this would not prevent very dangerous side effects from occurring due to its consumption.
Due to the high THC content and the absence of any CBD, as we have mentioned, It produces everything bad about natural marijuana and does not have the neuroprotective function attributed to real cannabis This results in the following adverse effects, shared with conventional marijuana, being more likely.
The possible psychotic effects of plant marijuana have been studied for some time The main person responsible for these effects is THC, but its action is partially counteracted by CBD in the natural plant. As we have mentioned, this is not the case with synthetic cannabis, where there is a high concentration of THC and, consequently, a greater probability of psychotic symptoms occurring. There are more cases of psychotic breaks among users of synthetic cannabis than those who take the real plant.
The main psychotic effects of synthetic cannabis are:
extreme anxiety
Confusion
Paranoia
Hallucinations and other perceptual disturbances
Catatonia
Depersonalization
Dissociation
Psychoses caused by the use of synthetic cannabis harm the consumer’s mental health in the long term They can occur without a history of mental disorder prior to the use of the synthetic cannabinoid and are more common among male and young users. The consumption of this substance is a risk factor for developing schizophrenia and is associated with a greater probability of requiring pharmacological treatment with antipsychotics than those who take conventional marijuana.
7. Risk of overdose
Synthetic cannabis users can overdose, that is, take too much of this drug and suffer a dangerous reaction with very serious symptoms or even death. Main Symptoms associated with synthetic cannabis overdose are:
Increased blood pressure
Reduced blood flow to the heart
Dysrhythmia (alteration of heartbeat)
Seizures
Renal insufficiency
Liver failure
Myocardial infarction
Hypothermia
If synthetic cannabis was mixed with synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, the risk of death increases.
