UPDATE - K2/Spice (synthetic cannabinoids)

What is K2?

·         K2/Spice is one, of many products that have become synonymous with synthetic cannabinoids or cannabimimetics.  The ingredients listed on a package of K2 incense are all herbs, but research has shown that products such as K2 or Spice are contaminated or laced with synthetic cannabinoids such as JWH018, JWH073, and HU-210.

What are synthetic cannabinoids?

·         Synthetic cannabinoids memic the effects of cannabis (Weed, Mary Jane, or in some circles “broccoli”), by acting on the same receptors.

·         Synthetic cannabinoids or Cannabimimetics such as cannabincyclohexanol (CP47,497-C8) and JWH-018 can be found in products such as K2 and Spice. 

·         WADA, and many professional organizations (MiLB, PGA TOUR, LPGA, etc…) bans these substances, and the UCLA laboratory can now test for the most commonly seen ingredients (JWH018, JWH073, and HU-210).   NCAA will include on banned substance list in August.

History of Synthetic Cannabinoids

·         The compounds carry the initials of their developer, John W. Huffman, an organic chemist at Clemson University in South Carolina.  The main purpose was to develop chemicals that mimicked marijuana or cannabimimetics in the brain in the hopes of developing new medicines.    

·         The project was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the findings were published in a scientific journal, including the formula for JWH-018 in 2005.

·          JWH-018 was given the 18 designation because it was the 18th such compound his lab team made during the research project. It has been reported that Dr. Huffman’s team developed over 450 additional compounds similar to JWH-018. 

·         Germany was one of the first places where products containing the compounds were seen. Officials there encountered a large number of cases involving the version known as Spice in 2008 and moved quickly, making those products illegal under the German Narcotics Law in early 2009.

Safety

·         Because of the newness of the drug, medical and law enforcement officials have little documentation about the medical consequences of its use. Some internet forums indicate constant use can be addictive.

·         We have seen reports of the following locally and across the nation:

o   Shortness of breath

o   Stopped breathing

o   Blackouts

o   Heart palpitations

o   Dizziness

o   Headaches

o   Hallucinations

o   Severe agitation

o   Elevated heart rate and blood pressure

o   Vomiting

o   Tremors and Seizures

·         Reports have shown that synthetic cannabinoids found in K2 and Spice could have the potential to be three to five times as potent as marijuana. 

·         WHAT ARE LONG-TERM EFFECTS?

o   There have been no long-term studies of the use of K2/Spice.

·         These products are being manufactured in China, drug regulations are very relaxed, and exporting illegal substances is not uncommon.

The Law

U.S.A. - As of January 13, 2011, the DEA has temporarily placed five synthetic cannabinoid chemicals into schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act.  This placement is good for one year or until a final determination has been made.  Those chemicals are: JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497 and CP-47,497.
Canada – K2, Spice and other incense products are not specifically prohibited in     Canada, but synthetic cannabis is listed as a schedule II drug.

South Korea - South Korea officially added JWH-018, CP 47,497 and HU-210 to the controlled substance list on July 1, 2009, effectively making these chemicals illegal.

Japan - Japan has banned JWH-018, CP 47, 497, and homologues, and HU-210 since Oct. 2009

Chile - The Chilean Ministry of Health on April 24, 2009 declared the sale of synthetic cannabis to be illegal

Switzerland - synthetic cannabinoids are illegal.

Germany - JWH-018, CP 47,497 and the C6, C8 and C9 homologues of CP 47,497 are illegal in Germany since January 2009

Most common synonyms

• Herbal Incense
• Spice
• K2
• K3
• K2 Spice
• K2 Summit
• Premium Blend K2
• Spice Gold
• Spice 99
• Black Mamba Spice
• Synthetic Marijuana
• Legal Herb
• Legal Weed
• K2 Weed
• Synthetic THC
• JWH-018
• Vodoo Spice
• Serenity Now

RECAP:

·         Not for human consumption

·         Side effects

o   Stopped breathing

o   Blackouts

o   Hallucinations

o   Elevated heart rate and blood pressure

o   Tremors and Seizures

·         There have been no long-term studies of the use of K2/Spice.

·         UCLA laboratory and others can now test for the most commonly seen ingredients (JWH018, JWH073, and HU-210).  

·         Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act

o   The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse

o   The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

o   There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.