Popular herbal incense that contain synthetic ingredient turn relatively harmless herbs like Damian herbs into a mix that will give its user an almost surreal high that is comparable or even often exceeds that of its Marijuana counterpart. The synthetic types of marijuana are referred to or known as spice, blaze and K2 and have been consumed by millions of American’s.
Many of those users who have abused the substance are young adolescent, and young adults many of which are finding themselves in the emergency room according to the researchers from the Children’s National Medical Center, Washington D.C., in a report published in the journal Pediatrics.
The Journal of Pediatrics reported that synthetic cannabinoids are made in illegal laboratories and sold in convenience stores and gas stations in several communities in the USA. The Pediatric sarticle, “Clinical Presentation Due to Synthetic Cannabinoids”, describes typical signs and symptoms of intoxication so that doctors can be aware of them.
Synthetic cannabinoids were created by John W. Huffman, an organic chemist at Clemson University. He devised the cannabinoids (also known as JWH) to aid in research of multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, and chemotherapy. Over the course of twenty years, Huffman and his team developed 450 synthetic cannabinoid compounds which were used to test the effect of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and other organs. In 2000, JHW compounds began selling in Germany initially as a marijuana alternatives known as spice.
Subsequent government regulations in the United States and many other countries banning JWH have given birth to monster versions of John W. Huffman’s creations rendering a research drug into a mass marketed drug alternative (due to the illegality and high cost of Marijuana) with significant negative health effects to its users. Government regulations were in part to be blamed for the rise of the so called monster chemicals being now used in modern day spice versions, however, producers of these products who care little for the welfare of their clientele are also to be blamed for the rise in emergency room visits by users. Spice is a relatively inexpensive product to produce, requires very little knowledge and has a high profit margin that is driven by a consumer base that is highly addicted to the product.
Synthetic cannabinoids have euphoric and psychoactive effects on the user, very much like those of natural marijuana. However, there are other effects associated with the synthetic versions of marijuana, some of which may be especially dangerous.
Young patients throughout the USA have arrived at emergency rooms with not only restlessness and agitation, but also diaphoresis, catatonia, extreme aggressions, and the inability to speak.
From 2010 to 2011, the American Association of Poison Control Centers received 4,500 telephone calls related to synthetic cannabinoid poisoning.
This latest report describes the hallmark signs of abuse and discusses what treatments the health care professional should consider.
The authors say the effects of intoxication are short-lived. However, health care professionals are becoming increasingly concerned about the potential long-term effects of regular synthetic cannabinoids usage.
Here termed as “Spice herbal incense”, an example of a synthetic marijuana
Synthetic marijuana does not contain what the manufacturers claim
According to sellers, synthetic marijuana consists of a mixture of traditional medicinal herbs – a blend with mild effects, such as those experienced with natural marijuana. According to Wikipedia, sellers cite the following herbs as ingredients – Scutellaria nana, Nelumbo nucifera, Leonotis leonurus, Nymphaea caerulea, Canavalia maritima, Pedicularis densiflora, Zornia latifolia, and Leonurus sibiricus. Laboratory tests in several countries, including a government-run one in Germany, found that these claims were false.
Scientists did find large quantities of synthetic tocopherol present. Researchers suggest that what is listed on the packet of so-called synthetic marijuana products may be completely inaccurate. The German government, in fact, in a risk assessment of these products in 2008, concluded that their plant ingredients were “unclear”, the source of the synthetic tocopherol was unknown, and their euphoric and psychoactive effects come from substances that might have nothing to do with the so-called plant ingredients.
According to US authorities, synthetic cannabinoids are products of plant origin that have had chemicals sprayed on them; these chemicals produce toxicity. The chemicals are hard to detect through standard drug tests, making them popular with young people.
Synthetic cannabinoids are usually smoked.
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