Last updated : December 16, 2024
Synthetic marijuana, also known as spice, Yucatan fire, K-2 or fake weed, is a wildly popular drug due to its psychoactive properties. Although synthetic weed has been ostensibly marketed as an herbal product, it is not herbal. Many professionals in the medical and research fields have advised against the recreational use of synthetic marijuana. However, the number of users and overdoses is certainly on an increase. Unlike natural marijuana, synthetic marijuana can cause many symptoms including paranoia, seizure, chest pain, cardiac problems, kidney damage, brain damage and death. There are many reasons why the effects of synthetic marijuana are so varied and toxic.
Binding and Acting in the Brain
One of the main reasons why synthetic marijuana is so dangerous is because of how it acts in the brain. Synthetic marijuana can trigger seizures and psychosis. Like natural marijuana, synthetic marijuana contains THC.
THC in synthetic marijuana is more effective in binding CB1 receptors in the brain, than THC in natural marijuana. Synthetic cannabinoids are artificially designed to hit cannabinoid receptors hard. The action of synthetic cannabinoids in the brain may be similar to those of natural cannabinoids but the effects of synthetic cannabinoids are so different and varied.
Another factor with synthetic marijuana is its potency. Synthetic marijuana is much more potent than natural THC. This means that it takes much less synthetic marijuana to produce maximal effects in the brain. Synthetic marijuana has higher efficacy and potency. The continued use of synthetic marijuana may result in life-threatening effects.
Effects on CB1 Receptors in the Brain
One of the main reasons why synthetic marijuana has such adverse effects on the brain is because CB1 receptors are present in just about every region in the brain. THC in synthetic marijuana is an effective binding and long-lasting compound. When you have such a compound going to different parts of the brain, you are likely to experience adverse and varied effects.
The wide distribution of CB1 receptors in the brain is the main reason why synthetic marijuana is so toxic. Users may experience memory problems, seizures and psychosis because of the effects of synthetic marijuana on the hippocampus, the temporal cortex and the prefrontal cortex respectively.
Synthetic Marijuana Overdose Vs Natural Marijuana Overdose
The clearest proof that synthetic marijuana is a different thing altogether is its overdose, which looks very different from a natural marijuana overdose. Natural marijuana users are usually mellow, funny and interactive. The effects of natural marijuana may be a bit intense but fade away quickly. Synthetic marijuana users look angry, sweaty and agitated.
Deactivating Synthetic Marijuana
The body does not know how to deactivate synthetic marijuana. One of the reasons for this is that the metabolites of synthetic pot do damage to the brain. Usually, the body deactivates a drug as it metabolizes it. However, this is not the case with synthetic pot.
Some of the metabolites of synthetic marijuana bind to receptors just as well as the drug itself, which is not the case with natural marijuana. This decreases the body’s ability to deactivate synthetic THC. Natural marijuana contains an element known as cannabidiol, which helps minimize some of the effects of THC. Synthetic marijuana has adverse effects to the body and the brain because it does not contain cannabidiol.
Quality Control
Synthetic marijuana is mostly made in underground labs in various countries in the world. There is practically no quality control in the formulation of synthetic marijuana. Most synthetic marijuana contains “hot spots”, places where the drug is more concentrated than others. The bottom line, there is no way you can tell what you are getting in a bag of synthetic cannabis.
