For people interested in experimenting and for those who already use synthetic cannabis, it’s really important to understand what this substance is and how it affects the mind and body.
Devastatingly, it was reported that in Manchester, 95% of our homeless community were addicted to spice, where it is also known as the “zombie” drug.(1)
The substance has also aggressively hit our prison population and is more likely to be used by veterans who have PTSD.(2) Finally, teenagers are also at risk.(3)
Synthetic cannabis is really cheap. In the UK, it’s possible to buy a high for as little as £5. This, along with a lack of awareness as to why some variations are available puts people at an increased risk.
Synthetic cannabis might also be referred to as man-made cannabinoids. It works on the endocannabinoid system, which all humans naturally have in the brain, as a full agonist on the CB1 and CB2 receptors.
This basically means that synthetic cannabis has a direct impact on the parts of the brain that respond to cannabinoid chemicals.
THC (the active chemical found in natural cannabis) is a partial agonist. THC strains also contain naturally occurring low levels of CBD which help to dull its effects. This is why synthetic cannabis is much stronger than natural cannabis.
In the UK this synthetic substance is a class B drug meaning it’s illegal to produce, possess, and supply.
The original synthetic substance contained the chemical HU-210. This was illegal in the U.S which meant the original synthetic cannabis was only available in Europe to begin with. Other variations were created with similar molecular structures.
There are now hundreds of types of synthetic cannabis. Manufacturers change the molecular structure of any substances that are made illegal to create a new variation in order to market them legally.
Synthetic cannabis is either a solid or oil. It’s added to plant material in order to replicate the look of natural cannabis.
The substance is sold in bright, “fun” looking packages, often from “head shops” on the high street or online. Due to it being illegal to use synthetic cannabis, the packages are usually labelled as herbal or liquid incense.
Unfortunately, this means that end users have no idea of the ingredients, dosage of the various chemicals, or their strengths. There are hundreds of types of synthetic cannabis because manufacturers keep making new variations in order to sell them.
Many packages label the substance as being natural because of the plant material (that is combined with the chemical). The synthetic cannabis chemicals, though, are most definitely not natural.
As mentioned earlier, the chemicals are man-made, and are created in factories where there are no regulations or health and safety standards. There have been recent news reports of spice being laced with rat poison which led to bleeding of the mouth and blood in urine and stools, hospitalisations, and deaths.
Note: Synthetic cannabis might be made to look like a healthy alternative to natural cannabis, but, in fact, its effects are much more dangerous.
As with the majority of substances, there are various ways people ingest synthetic cannabis, including:
The length of time synthetic cannabis stays in the system varies according to each unique circumstance. Various factors influence this.
The type and strength of synthetic cannabis will have a role to play as well as how much has been taken. A person’s tolerance, as well as body weight and height will also impact the length of time it remains active in the brain and body.
There isn’t a wealth of research, however along with the research that there is, there are also news reports, documentaries, and information from health and addiction organisations.
In terms of the psychoactive process; synthetic cannabis binds to the receptors in the brain much more strongly than the THC that exists in natural cannabis. This makes it more dangerous.
The ingredients in synthetic cannabis regularly change and they’re unknown by users or those who treat users because of the lack of information on packages.
Synthetic opioids can be added to the mixture, for instance. Due to the variation between packages, the dose a person receives can vary greatly each time they use it.
There are some reports that say it can over-stimulate the serotonin system which can cause an increase in pulse rate, sweating, agitation as well as organ failure.
This synthetic substance is often referred to as the “zombie” drug because of how it “knocks people out” into unconsciousness. Sadly, this might suggest one reason why it’s associated with our most marginalised communities; around difficult lives people want to “numb” or “escape”.
At its worst, synthetic cannabis causes death.
93% of users say they prefer natural cannabis to synthetic.(4) People who use natural cannabis usually appear relaxed, while those who smoke synthetic cannabis present as being agitated similar to people who have taken amphetamines.
Although THC and the various chemicals found in synthetic cannabis both work on the CB receptors in the brain, they’re actually very different drugs in terms of associated dangers and addiction potential.
Many people are misled by the false advertising on the packaging claiming that it’s natural.
Also, due to many of the variations being legally sold (because the manufacturers keep changing the molecular structure), this can lead people to thinking that it’s safe. It’s not.
Both cannabis and synthetic cannabis are linked to mental health issues. Due to being such a strong substance, synthetic cannabis increases the likelihood of mental health issues even more.
Psychosis and long-lasting hallucinations can be experienced. This is even more likely where mental health conditions already exist within a person’s family (i.e. a genetic predisposition).
Polysubstance use is where people use more than one substance at a time. Due to the way synthetic cannabis affects the serotonin system, it’s really important that users are advised never to mix it with antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac) which also affect the serotonin system.
Doing so can cause serotonin syndrome.
Symptoms include:
As mentioned already, synthetic weed is stronger than natural cannabis. What many people aren’t aware of is that along with a psychological addiction, a physical dependency can also develop.
A physical dependency is where a person’s brain and body starts to malfunction when the substance leaves the system. This is because the body has come to rely on it to work normally. Physical dependencies are what can develop in heroin, alcohol, and benzodiazepine use.
People facing both a psychological and physical addiction experience a very complex withdrawal that affects many systems of the body.
When people become addicted to synthetic cannabis and the substance starts to exit the body, the following symptoms can be experienced:
People with addictions to synthetic cannabis will require a support package that addresses psychological, physical, and social health.
The safest goal for users is to achieve abstinence. When people enter a rehab programme, they’ll first be treated for the physical dependency. This is where a doctor will oversee a detox period where the person is weaned off the drug.
The patient might be given medication to reduce physical symptoms of withdrawal.
After this, people are supported to access psychotherapies, counselling, and alternative therapies. With this support, people come to understand what triggers their use and how to overcome this.
Synthetic cannabis users are also encouraged to access groups such as 12 Step and SMART sessions. These groups offer a safe environment where people can connect and develop a social support network.
All of these aspects are useful in recovery.
Unfortunately, many people don’t understand how dangerous synthetic cannabis is because so many variations of it are being sold legally as “herbal incense”.
This is because manufacturers continually change the molecular structure in order to be able to sell new variations. Sadly, the government can’t keep up with making every single new variation illegal.
All forms of synthetic cannabis are, however, very dangerous. They’re much stronger than natural cannabis because of how it impacts the brain. Interestingly, synthetic cannabis doesn’t entirely replicate the feeling of natural cannabis and the side effects can lead to organ failure and death.
Addiction to this drug can develop quickly and also presents as a physical dependency (as well as psychological addiction. Treatment for both aspects as well as social support is the most effective way to recover.
To find out where you can access support and treatment for synthetic cannabis use, contact Rehab 4 Addiction.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/oct/29/spice-so-called-zombie-drug-uk-poorest-communities
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4869907/
[3] https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cap.2011.0122
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
