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The legal landscape surrounding marijuana use and possession has drastically changed in recent years. More and more states are decriminalizing or legalizing the drug for recreational and medicinal purposes. Many people believe that marijuana is a harmless drug because they are inhaling or ingesting a natural plant. However, dealers and black market chemists wish to capitalize on the public’s increased tolerance and use of marijuana by making and distributing synthetic versions of the drug. These synthetic compounds are often referred to as “Spice,” and “K2,” and are falsely advertised as natural and safe. But there is nothing natural about these drugs, and they aren’t safe, either.
What is synthetic marijuana?
Synthetic marijuana drugs are cannabinoid receptor agonists made out of a mixture of herbs and spices and then sprayed with chemical compounds that are similar to THC, the naturally occurring, mind-altering compound in the marijuana plant. These drugs are then packaged and sold in stores and head shops and are marketed as safe and legal substances. However, they are not technically legal, and they can cause many adverse and potentially deadly health consequences. Sometimes, synthetic marijuana is sold in small, shiny bags labeled as incense or potpourri. Other times, it can be found in a liquid form and vaporized to get high.
While the active ingredient in the plant marijuana is THC, the active ingredients in synthetic marijuana are relatively unknown. Users do not know exactly what is in Spice or K2, and can never be sure of what they are getting, and how much of a dose they are ingesting. The herbs and spices in K2 and Spice are often sprayed unevenly, and each packet can differ significantly in potency.
Why is synthetic marijuana more dangerous than natural marijuana?
The acute, adverse effects of natural marijuana typically manifest as an anxiety attack. Although this is incredibly distressing for the user, it’s not fatal. Synthetic marijuana differs in this regard. Many of the adverse effects of synthetic marijuana produce potentially dangerous physical problems.
The CDC has reported instances of acute kidney injury related to synthetic marijuana use in Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, New York, Rhode Island, and Wyoming. There have also been multiple cases of severe and fatal internal bleeding in people who have used synthetic cannabinoids.
While natural marijuana does possess several notable long term effects on users, it has never been implicated in a fatal overdose, whereas Spice has. Some synthetic marijuana brands can be between two and one hundred times stronger than the plant marijuana. Users who take Spice and experience an adverse reaction can display the following dangerous symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shortness of breath and shallow breathing
- High heart rate and high blood pressure
- Chest pains
- Anxiety and agitation
- Problems thinking clearly
- Psychosis
- Suicide attempts
- Kidney Failure
- Abnormal bleeding and bruising
If someone takes synthetic marijuana and begins to experience these effects, they need swift medical attention.
What is the history of synthetic marijuana?
In the 1980s, the chemical compounds in Spice were created by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals for scientific research. By the end of the decade, the drug was made 100 to 800 times stronger than natural THC. Since its creation, the drug has circulated throughout novelty stores, headshops, and gas stations as an alternative to marijuana, although the drugs were labeled as “incense” and other products to avoid detection from the authorities. In 2010, the DEA used their emergency powers to seize these chemicals. By 2012, a law was passed banning the chemicals used to make Spice and other synthetic marijuana drugs.
Despite the drug’s illegality, dealers, drug traffickers, and chemists continued to create synthetic marijuana compounds and kept selling them. Each time a new generation of synthetic marijuana hits the market, the DEA bans the chemicals. But usually it’s too late, and more, newer, more potent chemical forms of marijuana flood the market. Education, awareness, and harm-reduction techniques have proven to be more effective at stopping overdoses from synthetic marijuana than law enforcement techniques.
Is synthetic marijuana addictive?
Studies suggest that synthetic marijuana does have the potential to become habit-forming and addictive. Symptoms of drug addiction and dependence include:
- A desire to stop using, but can’t
- Experiencing negative consequences associated with drug use
- Taking more and more of the drug to get the desired effect
- Neglecting responsibilities in favor of drug use
- Not finding enjoyment in usual activities because of drug use
- Becoming socially withdrawn or isolated
- Not going to work or school and using drugs instead
People who develop a dependence on synthetic marijuana need treatment. Once someone who is dependent on artificial marijuana stop using the drug, they will develop distressing withdrawal symptoms that can last up to three days. Withdrawal symptoms can include the following:
- Nausea and diarrhea
- Violent outbursts
- Severe agitation
- Hot and cold flashes
- Anxiety
- Cravings to use the drug
What kind of help should someone get if they are abusing synthetic marijuana?
A drug rehabilitation center can help people safely withdrawal from synthetic marijuana and prevent the individual from relapsing. When someone with a physical and psychological dependence on the drug attempts to quit on their own, they are at increased risk of retaking the drug once withdrawal symptoms set in. If they try to attempt the withdrawal phase at home, they have easy access to synthetic marijuana. If they withdraw in a rehab facility, they are in a structured and supportive drug-free environment.
Once synthetic marijuana is out of their system, they can begin work in therapy to explore why they got addicted to drugs, and how to prevent it from happening again. A rehab center gives people the tools they need to stay away from places and situations that can trigger their drug use. Family, group and one-on-one therapy can significantly improve people’s chances of achieving and maintaining lifelong sobriety from synthetic marijuana and other illicit substances.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with an addiction to synthetic marijuana, please reach out to one of our drug abuse counselor at Mission Harbor today to explore your options for addiction treatment.
The facilities at Mission Harbor are staffed with trained experts to best assist patients with their mental health issues. We are capable of dealing with any and all cases with a licensed staff, equipment, and approved techniques. Our mission is to help those who want to help themselves, and we support your decision in seeking help.
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