Synthetic cannabinoids. also known as “kiosk drugs” in Israel. are sold under commercial names such as Nice Guy and Mabsuton. sometimes packaged as herbal infusions. Nonetheless, behind these innocent and ever-changing names lies a wide variety of dangerous substances, marketed for years as legal drug “substitutes,” and sold in the form of incense, liquid for vaporization, or shredded plant material for water pipes.
It include various herbs that have been sprayed with psychoactive substances that mimic the activity of cannabinoids, and that sometimes contain added chemicals such as ether and acetone, among others. Specifically, these psychoactive substances are a group of hundreds of synthetic chemicals that attach to the same cannabinoid receptors in the brain as THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. However, synthetic cannabinoids can affect the brain in different and unpredictable ways compared to cannabis, and can be dozens of times more powerful than THC.
Despite the misleading messages on the packaging of many synthetic cannabinoid products – such as “100% legal,” “100% natural,” and “not classified as a drug” – these are, in fact, psychoactive, consciousness-altering, harmful and addictive substances that can cause irreversible damage. As a result, in July 2013 the Israeli Knesset passed a law to combat the use of these hazardous substances. In response to the rapid turnover of these substances on the market, the law grants the director of the Israeli Ministry of Health the authority to prohibit the distribution of a substance deemed dangerous.
A bit of history
Synthetic cannabinoids were first synthesized in 1984 by the chemist John William Huffman. He did it in his laboratory at Clemson University in South Carolina, USA. The team developed more than 400 synthetic cannabinoids over the course of twenty years for medical and pharmacological research. In the late 2000s, two of the compounds that Huffman and his team made began being sold in Germany as cannabis alternatives. They sold under the names K2 and Spice. Huffman himself warned that these substances were dangerous. Huffman even helped US and Canadian authorities formulate laws prohibiting the use and sale of synthetic cannabinoids.
Why do people use synthetic cannabinoids?
Synthetic cannabinoids activate the same receptors in the brain as does THC. their effects are similar:
- a sense of calm and euphoria
- heightened sensory perceptions, including sound, color, taste and smell
The main consumers of synthetic cannabinoids are teenagers and young adults. mainly because they are easy to obtain, relatively cheap and, as mentioned, were sold legally in Israel until 2013. when the first law to regulate them was passed.
What are the adverse health effects of cannabinoids?
As mentioned above. synthetic cannabinoids are highly addictive substances that are hard to withdraw from.
Beyond being addictive, these kiosk drugs can cause.
- Hallucinations
- Psychotic seizures
- Paranoia
- Tantrums
- Violent outbursts
- Restlessness and irritability
It also can trigger psychiatric episodes that require hospitalization.
In addition, the use of synthetic cannabinoids may trigger.
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Suicidal thoughts.
In recent years. the number of deaths reported as a result of their use has increased.
Moreover. there have been reported cases of contaminated cannabinoid substances. that have led to fatalities in the United States.
Why is it hard to stop using synthetic cannabinoids?
Synthetic cannabinoids are considered more addictive than cannabis.
the attempt to stop using them is accompanied by withdrawal symptoms
including:
- Increased anxiety
- Depression
- Nightmares
- Hallucinations
Their high addictive potential is linked to their intense activity on brain receptors and their rapid disintegration. The progression from strong activity to rapid disintegration promotes more frequent use. which increases the risk of addiction. Abstaining from synthetic cannabinoids after long term use triggers withdrawal symptoms similar to those of nicotine withdrawal
- Irritability
- sleep disturbances
- Anxiety
- decreased appetite
which, in turn, can lead to recurrent use of the drug.
