Why Are Synthetic Cannabinoids Bad?
There are a lot of murky laws surrounding cannabis, with varying restrictions state-to-state. And with them are a lot of products trying to get around them. One of the most common ways to get around these restrictions on THC (and other cannabinoids like THCV and CBD), is to use synthetic cannabinoids. But there are many risks that come with these products, and we‘re here to warn you about them.
But first: what are cannabinoids? And how are there synthetic ones?
Cannabinoids are a compound of the cannabis plant, and can also be found in many other plants. They are what creates the “high” felt from cannabis. Synthetic cannabinoids are cannabinoids made in a lab from plants and chemicals other than cannabis.
The main danger of synthetic cannabinoids is this:
They bind to our body’s cannabinoid receptors much faster and stronger than natural cannabis, and we aren’t entirely sure why they do this. There isn’t an exact science behind this process. Because of this, we aren’t able to accurately dose the drug, and can end up with negative side effects much easier.
Synthetic cannabinoids also have more negative side effects than natural cannabis does.
According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, serious reported side effects include:
Heart
chest pain
fast and irregular heartbeat
hypertension (raised blood pressure)
Lungs
breathing difficulties
Kidneys
acute kidney injury
Brain
seizures
stroke
Psychological
agitation, anxiety and paranoia
aggressive and violent behaviour
psychosis
Other
severe hyperthermia
breakdown of muscle tissue (rhabdomyolysis)
vomiting.
The foundation also acknowledges that some of these side effects (like anxiety, paranoia, psychosis) can occur with cannabis use, “but this is more common in people who have not used cannabis much before and vulnerable individuals (e.g. someone with a pre-existing mental health condition, or someone with a family history of a mental health condition).”
A study in England reported 165 deaths from 2012-2019, with most being the outcome of multiple drug (or poly drug) situations (mixing the synthetics with another substance), with alcohol being the most common.
This study further emphasizes the danger of synthetic cannabinoids because most people like to consume substances at parties and other social events where other substances are present, and mixing them becomes very easy to do.
Unlike cannabinoids from natural cannabis, where the most common side effects you will get from mixing with alcohol are the spins (nausea) or maybe a little panic attack, the effects from mixing alcohol with synthetic cannabinoids can be fatal.
There are lots of natural cannabis products on the market, but you have to beware of the sneaky synthetic cannabinoids that also try to advertise as “natural.”
If you aren’t sure if the product you’re purchasing contains synthetic cannabinoids, most products have ingredient lists with their sources included. And further still, some companies post their testing results online for public access. If they don’t, and you’re unsure of the contents of the product, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Sources:Alcohol and Drug Foundation. “Are synthetic cannabinoids more harmful than grown cannabis?” May 24, 2024. Web Article. https://adf.org.au/resources/health-professionals/synthetic-cannabinoids/synthetic-cannabinoids-harm/
Yoganathan, Pruntha et al. “Synthetic Cannabinoid-Related Deaths in England, 2012-2019” Aug 7, 2022. National Library of Medicine. Pub Med. Web Article. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33998886/