Synthetic marijuana

Synthetic cannabis (synthetic marijuana), or technically synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, are any drug that mimics the effects of cannabis sprayed onto a herbal base material. Synthetic cannabis is often termed spice product.

Notice was given at the end of 2010 by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) that five members of the "synthetic cannabinoids" group or "Spice" compounds were to be banned in the U.S

• the substances were:
  • 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)- indole (JWH-018),
  • 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)-indole (JWH-073),
  • 1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1-naphthoyl)-indole (JWH-200),
  • 5-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]- phenol (CP-47497),
  • and 5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3- hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol (cannabicyclohexanol; CP-47497 C8 homologue)
    
    
• the drugs have been described by users as having cannabis-like effects, and some of these compounds show strong binding to cannabinoid receptors. In general plant materials are sprayed with one or a combination of these synthetic compounds before sale.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, K2 and Spice has street names such as "Bliss", "Black Mamba", "Bombay Blue", "Fake Weed", "Genie", and "Yucatan Fire" among others, and compounds typically detected in the mixes include JWH-018, JWH-073, and HU-210 and its non-pharmacologically active enantiomer HU-211.

Reference:

• Coulter C, Garnier M, Moore C.Synthetic cannabinoids in oral fluid.J Anal Toxicol. 2011 Sep;35(7):424-30.