Last updated : December 23, 2024
You may know synthetic marijuana as Spice, K2, Scooby Snacks, Mr. Happy, Skunk, Kush, Moon Rocks or fake weed.
Sold in head stores, convenience stores and even online, synthetic marijuana products claim to be safe, natural alternatives that produce a similar high, but their misleading message often leads to devastation.
Spice and similar products are popular among teens. In fact, their usage rate is second only to marijuana itself among high school students. The synthetic mixtures are sometimes called “incense” and often resemble potpourri.
Although packages cleverly state that the products are not intended for human consumption, the consumer is expected to silently understand this ploy to keep manufacturers under the legal radar. Users typically smoke the contents, or make tea from them to experience the desired high. The misconception that they are natural and harmless, and the fact that they usually don’t show up on drug tests have both driven their popularity.
What Synthetic Marijuana Really Is
These synthetic products do contain visible plant ingredients to make them appear natural, but the shredded leaves and other solid materials are mostly inert. The real active ingredients are chemical cannabinoid compounds that are sprayed on or soaked into the twigs and leaves. Because the five most common chemicals used to produce synthetic marijuana have been designated Schedule I controlled substances, it is illegal to sell, buy or possess them. However, manufacturers skirt the law by developing and using new chemicals as replacements. Since there has been no testing of these new and sometimes unidentified compounds, their long- and short-term effects on human health are poorly understood.
How Does Synthetic Marijuana Affect the Brain?
Synthetic marijuana users report the same effects as those produced by cannabis including heightened mood, altered perception and relaxation. Some have also reported negative effects such as feelings of panic, paranoia and visual or auditory hallucinations. Although authorities haven’t conducted scientific studies on how the chemicals affect the human brain, it is known that the synthetic compounds act on the same cell receptors as the main psychoactive component of marijuana, known as THC. Because some of these compounds attach more strongly to receptors, dramatic and unpredictable effects are possible. Exposure to new, unstudied and frequently altered chemicals poses a serious threat to the mental and physical health of synthetic marijuana users.
Possible Physical Side Effects
A frightening picture appears when one considers claims made by medical staff and Spice abusers who have been treated at Poison Control Centers. Reported cardiovascular symptoms include strokes, rapid heart rate and ischemia leading to heart attacks. Neurological effects such as tremor, seizures, violent hallucinations, confusion and psychosis have occurred. The substances are also associated with gastric distress and kidney damage. Regular users may even experience withdrawal symptoms.
The Evidence: Documented Synthetic Marijuana Tragedies
Beyond anecdotal reports, there have been many documented cases where Spice or similar products have ended in medical tragedy.
- The heartbreaking story of 17-year-old Emily Bauer’s experience with Kush began after she smoked the product, which she purchased from a gas station, and developed a migraine headache afterward. Emily soon suffered a series of strokes and other complications that left her with brain damage, blindness and paralysis.
- In 2011, an article in Pediatrics revealed three cases of teenage boys having heart attacks after smoking Spice.
- Fifteen-year-old Kyle Smith from Maryland experienced a psychotic break after using synthetic marijuana. Since the event, he has been admitted to institutions for psychiatric care 17 times and has attempted suicide three times.
- In 2013, the CDC issued an alert concerning 16 young males in 6 states who suffered serious kidney damage after smoking synthetic marijuana. Five of the victims required life-saving dialysis treatment.
- In 2012, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that synthetic marijuana products were responsible for 11,400 visits to the emergency room in a single year.
Knowledge Is Power
Because many users only tried synthetic marijuana because they thought it was a safe and harmless substance, spreading the word about the dangers of synthetic cannabinoids could potentially save many teens and others from their dangerous grasp. Until authorities find a way to control the production and distribution of these drugs, media coverage, social networking and word-of-mouth are important weapons against them.
