Last updated : November 18, 2024
Synthetic Marijuana is not made from cannabis. It is a variety of chemical mixtures that create an experience designed to mimic that of cannabis. It is often sold in a store under different names. Yucatan Fire, Skunk, fake weed and more are some of the names used. These products are made with dried and ground plant material combined with chemical additives. The chemicals provide the psychoactive experience.
History
Synthetic marijuana first appeared in 2004 in Europe. It was sold under the same of Spice. The company that sold it was The Psyche Deli located in London, England. The chemicals involved with synthetic marijuana were invented by John Huffman. At the time, he was a professor of organic chemistry at Clemson University.
Appearance
The colors of synthetic marijuana can range from red to green, brown and more. It is usually sold in small packets. These packets can be plastic zip bags or foil packs.
Addiction
Little research has been done to determine the addictive power of synthetic marijuana. There is some evidence that individuals who regularly use synthetic marijuana display addictive behaviors. Individuals have had withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop using it. Some people became very aggressive and agitated if they believed it wasn’t possible to have some at a designated time. Individuals have also experienced symptoms such as extreme sweating, loss of appetite, insomnia and more.
Experience
Most people who use synthetic marijuana describe the experience as similar to using real marijuana. Many individuals claim that the high produced does not last as long as actual marijuana. Others claim they experienced more of a relaxed feeling in their entire body. It’s more than just a high feeling in their head. The taste is described as much more harsh than regular marijuana.
Long Term Effects
No studies have been conducted. There is no way to know what the long term effects are of synthetic marijuana. A research professor conducted a study on how the pharmaceuticals contained in synthetic marijuana impact brain function. He concluded the chemicals commonly used could pose a major health risk. They have the potential to be very dangerous since so little is known about their toxicity or metabolites.
Kidney Damage
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a warning about synthetic marijuana use. They explained how 16 cases of kidney damage in teenagers were recorded. The kidney damage was a result of using synthetic marijuana. These were synthetic marijuana users from all over the country. Individuals in New York, Oklahoma, Wyoming and others states have experienced serious kidney damage. Many of these conditions were so severe, the patients were required to have dialysis.
Human Brain
The impact of synthetic marijuana on the human brain has not been studied. There are compounds in it that act on the same brain cell receptors as cannabis. The major difference is the compounds of synthetic marijuana are able to bind to the same receptors with more strength. This will cause an experience that is more intense and unable to be predicted. There are many chemicals found in synthetic marijuana that are unknown. Some of these chemicals provide a very different experience from what the user is expecting. People have experienced everything from violent hallucinations to seizures, paranoia, mental illness and more.
Heart Attack
Users of synthetic marijuana are at risk for having a heart attack. Teenagers have used synthetic marijuana and experienced heart problems. After experiencing chest pains, an EEG reading has been done on teenagers who used synthetic marijuana. A myocardial infarction was detected. The chemical troponin had been released into their system. This is a chemical the body releases when the heart muscle is being damaged.
