Heidi Norton
Herbal incense, also known as synthetic marijuana, natural herbs, or herbal smoking blends, is often laced with synthetic cannabinoids and sold under brand names such as K2, Spice, Cloud 9, and Mojo. While the sale of herbal incense remains in a regulatory void in Canada, Health Canada considers it a controlled substance if it produces effects similar to marijuana. This grey area has led to the widespread availability of synthetic pot in Canada, sparking debates about the need for stricter drug laws to address this issue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is herbal incense a controlled substance in Canada? | Herbal incense is not a controlled substance in Canada, but it is considered a controlled substance if it gives the same effect as marijuana. |
| What is herbal incense? | Synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs) are sprayed onto plant matter and are usually smoked. They are often called "synthetic marijuana", "natural herbs", "herbal incense", or "herbal smoking blends". |
| Why is it not a controlled substance? | It is not a controlled substance due to a regulatory void in Canada. |
| What are synthetic cannabinoids? | Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of designer drug molecules that bind to the same receptors as cannabinoids (THC, CBD, and many others) in cannabis plants. |
| What are the common brands of herbal incense? | K2, Spice, Cloud 9, Mojo, and many others. |
| What are the effects of herbal incense? | The effects of herbal incense are similar to the effects of marijuana, including tachycardia, agitation, irritability, drowsiness, hallucinations, delusions, hypertension, nausea, confusion, dizziness, vertigo, and chest pain. |
| What are the risks associated with herbal incense? | The risks associated with herbal incense include unpredictable toxicity, abuse potential, and severe adverse health effects such as acute kidney injury. |
| What is the legal status of synthetic cannabinoids in other countries? | In the United States, the DEA has taken action to control synthetic cannabinoids, and at least 38 states have banned or temporarily categorized them as Schedule I substances. The UK has also amended its drug laws to classify many synthetic cannabinoids as Class B drugs. |
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What You'll Learn
Herbal incense is a synthetic cannabinoid
Synthetic cannabinoids are designed to mimic the effects of THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. They are often labelled "not for human consumption" to avoid legal restrictions and for liability defence. However, they are abused for their psychoactive properties, and their health and safety risks are not always known or disclosed.
In Canada, synthetic cannabis mimics are listed as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This schedule specifically mentions synthetic compounds JWH-XXX and AM-XXXX, but it is not limited to these compounds. Health Canada is actively debating the subject, and the classification of synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule II drugs occurred in October 2018.
The use of synthetic cannabinoids can lead to adverse health effects, including tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, unconsciousness, tremors, seizures, vomiting, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, pallor, numbness, and tingling. There have been reports of severe bleeding caused by contaminated synthetic cannabinoids, as well as kidney failure and even suicide.
Overall, herbal incense, as a form of synthetic cannabinoid, poses significant health risks and is subject to ongoing legal debates and restrictions in Canada and other countries.
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It's marketed as a legal high
Herbal incense, also known as synthetic cannabinoids, is a class of designer drug molecules that bind to cannabinoid receptors. It is often marketed and sold as a "legal high" or "herbal smoking blend" under brand names such as K2, Spice, synthetic marijuana, natural herbs, and plant food. These products are labelled "not for human consumption" to avoid legal restrictions and regulatory oversight.
Synthetic cannabinoids are designed to mimic the effects of THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and are often smoked or ingested. They are easily synthesized and highly profitable, creating an incentive for their continued distribution. The lack of oversight, quality control, and accountability in the manufacturing and distribution processes has led to a highly variable and unpredictable composition of these products, posing significant health risks to consumers.
In Canada, the regulatory status of herbal incense has been described as a "grey area." While Health Canada considers it a controlled substance if it produces effects similar to marijuana, not all synthetic cannabinoids have been declared as such under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). This discrepancy has allowed for the continued sale and distribution of these products within the country, despite efforts to control them in other jurisdictions.
The use of synthetic cannabinoids is associated with various toxicities and adverse health effects, including tachycardia, agitation, irritability, drowsiness, hallucinations, delusions, hypertension, nausea, confusion, dizziness, vertigo, chest pain, and acute kidney injury. The unpredictable nature of these substances and their potential for contamination further contribute to their dangerous nature.
As a result, law enforcement agencies, such as the DEA and state drug control agencies, have recognized the need to monitor and control these chemicals. Efforts have been made to temporarily schedule these substances as controlled substances to address the imminent hazard they pose to public safety. However, the constant evolution of synthetic cannabinoids and the lack of comprehensive legislation have made it challenging to keep up with the market and protect consumers from the potential dangers of these "legal highs."
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It's often labelled not for human consumption
In Canada, synthetic cannabis mimics are listed as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This includes specific synthetic compounds JWH-XXX and AM-XXXX, although the list is not limited to these. Spice, a brand of synthetic cannabinoids, is not specifically prohibited in Canada.
Synthetic cannabinoids are often sold as "herbal incense" or "herbal smoking blends" and are labelled "not for human consumption". This label is used as a liability defence and to dodge the Controlled Substances Analogue Act, which covers any chemical similar to controlled substances such as marijuana. These products are illegal designer drugs and can be extremely harmful, even deadly. They are often marketed as "potpourri", "herbal incense", "synthetic marijuana", "natural herbs", or "herbal smoking blends". The labels are designed to mislead uninformed consumers into thinking they are harmless retail products.
The "not for human consumption" label also allows manufacturers to avoid listing all product ingredients. This lack of transparency, coupled with the lack of oversight and quality control, results in a highly variable and unpredictable composition of these products. The pharmacology of the active components is often uncharacterized, making it difficult to identify and treat adverse reactions or overdoses.
The "not for human consumption" label is a legal loophole that allows distributors to sell these harmful products while evading regulatory scrutiny. It is important for consumers to be aware of the true nature of these products and the potential risks associated with their use.
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It's sold under names like K2, Spice, and synthetic marijuana
K2, Spice, and synthetic marijuana are all names for synthetic cannabinoids, a class of designer drug molecules that bind to the same receptors as cannabinoids (THC, CBD, and many others) in cannabis plants. These synthetic cannabinoids are often sprayed onto plant matter and smoked, although they can also be ingested as a concentrated liquid. They are marketed as "herbal incense" or "herbal smoking blends" and are sold under various brand names, including K2, Spice, RedX Dawn, Paradise, Demon, Black Magic, and many others.
K2 is named after the second-highest mountain on Earth and is one of the original and best-known brands of SCB-laced "herbal incense." These products are often packaged with labels stating ""not for human consumption"" or "not for consumption" to avoid legal restrictions on cannabis and the Federal Analogue Act of 1986, which treats controlled substance analogues intended for human consumption as controlled substances. However, distributors and consumers understand that these products are to be used like marijuana to achieve a psychoactive "high."
Spice, or "synthetic marijuana," was first released in 2005 by the London-based company Psyche Deli. By 2009, Spice products had been identified in 21 of 30 participating countries in the EMCDDA. Spice is not specifically prohibited in Canada, but synthetic cannabis mimics, including specific synthetic compounds JWH-XXX and AM-XXXX, are listed as Schedule II drugs under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Schedule II has consisted entirely of synthetic cannabinoids since October 2018 and remains illegal.
The adverse health effects of abusing herbal incense products containing synthetic cannabinoids have prompted state public health and poison centers to issue warnings. These effects can include an elevated heart rate, elevated blood pressure, unconsciousness, tremors, seizures, vomiting, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, pallor, numbness, and tingling. In addition, the pharmacology of the active components in these products is often uncharacterized, making it difficult to identify and monitor their ever-changing contents. The death of David Mitchell Rozga, an American teenager who reportedly smoked K2 before his apparent suicide in 2010, brought international attention to the dangers of K2 and other legal synthetic drugs. This incident influenced political lobbying against K2, leading to the "David Mitchell Rozga Act" to ban its use and distribution, which was passed by the United States Congress in June 2011.
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It's a public health concern due to toxicity and abuse potential
The use of herbal incense, also known as synthetic cannabinoids, poses a significant public health concern in Canada due to its toxicity and abuse potential. With hundreds of "herbal incense" blends available, it is marketed as a "legal" high and sold under various brand names such as K2, Spice, synthetic marijuana, and herbal smoking blends. These products are often labelled "not for human consumption" to circumvent legal restrictions and regulatory oversight. However, their increasing use, particularly among young people, has led to a growing number of hospital admissions and severe adverse health effects.
The pharmacology of the active components in herbal incense is often uncharacterised, making it challenging to determine the specific toxicities associated with its use. Nevertheless, studies have reported various adverse health effects, including tachycardia, agitation, irritability, drowsiness, hallucinations, delusions, hypertension, nausea, confusion, dizziness, vertigo, and chest pain. Acute kidney injury has also been strongly linked to the use of herbal incense, with thousands of Americans seeking emergency treatment due to side effects from synthetic marijuana.
The issue of toxicity is further exacerbated by the unpredictable nature of synthetic cannabinoids. As clandestine chemists continuously produce new variants to stay ahead of control measures, the composition of herbal incense products becomes highly variable and unpredictable. This lack of oversight, quality control, and accountability among manufacturers and distributors results in an ever-changing landscape of synthetic cannabinoids, making it challenging for healthcare professionals to anticipate and treat adverse health outcomes effectively.
Furthermore, the abuse potential of herbal incense contributes to its public health concern. The subjective "high" produced by these substances, similar to the effects of marijuana, has led to their recreational use and abuse. The ease of accessibility, availability in retail outlets and online, and perception of legality further fuel their abuse potential. The DEA and state drug control agencies have recognised the need to monitor and control these substances, with some synthetic cannabinoids being temporarily categorised as Schedule I substances under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
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Frequently asked questions
Herbal incense is not a controlled substance in Canada, but it is considered a controlled substance if it gives the same effect as marijuana. It is often sold in legal retail outlets as "herbal incense" and labeled "not for human consumption" to avoid regulatory oversight of the manufacturing process.
Herbal incense consists of plant material that has been laced with synthetic cannabinoids, which users claim mimics the primary psychoactive active ingredient in marijuana, THC.
The effects of herbal incense can range from seizures to hallucinations to acute psychosis. The largest group of users is men in their 20s who participate in polydrug use. The most common reported toxicities include tachycardia, agitation, irritability, drowsiness, hallucinations, delusions, hypertension, nausea, confusion, dizziness, vertigo, and chest pain.
