Last updated : April 21, 2025
Synthetic marijuana, commonly referred to as K2 or Spice, can be tested for in urine using either an instant test or lab-based testing. Manufacturers sell these products as “incense” and label them “not for human consumption.”
The product itself does resemble marijuana. The synthetic chemical compounds such as JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, JWH-250, JWH-081, are added to the weed-like material and then smoked by the consumer. If any of these compounds are in the K2 or Spice, their presence can be detected by the drug test. However, the “chemists” frequently change those chemicals ever-so-slightly, rendering the drug test ineffective. Therefore, testing for these substances can become a bit of a cat and mouse game.
Requests for testing for these synthetics is rare in Northeast Ohio but are, indeed, available should a company desire to test for them.