Heidi Norton
Herbal incense, also known as synthetic marijuana, is a dangerous drug trend that has been marketed as natural and safe. It is typically sold as a liquid or shredded plant material with manufactured, mind-altering chemicals. These chemicals are often unknown and can cause unpredictable and even fatal effects. While herbal incense is currently legal in South Carolina, it is important to note that it has been associated with serious adverse health effects, including acute psychosis, delirium, violent behavior, seizures, and cardiovascular emergencies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is herbal incense legal in South Carolina? | Yes, herbal incense is legal in South Carolina. |
| Is herbal incense safe? | No, herbal incense is dangerous and can cause serious adverse psychiatric effects including acute psychosis, delirium, violent behavior, seizures, and cardiovascular emergencies. |
| Is herbal incense a drug? | Yes, herbal incense is a drug and is often marketed as a natural and safe alternative to marijuana. However, it is not safe and can have unpredictable and even fatal effects. |
| What are the common names of herbal incense? | K2, spice, and synthetic marijuana. |
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What You'll Learn
Herbal incense is legal in all 50 US states
While herbal incense is indeed legal across the United States, it is important to understand the potential dangers associated with these products. Synthetic cannabinoids are designed to activate the same receptors in the brain as natural cannabinoids like THC, but they can have a much more potent effect. The exact chemicals used in these products are often unknown, and there have been reports of life-threatening bleeding caused by herbal incense contaminated with rat poison.
In 2011, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) named several common synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule 1 drugs, making it illegal to use them in the manufacture and sale of herbal drugs. This action was taken due to the increasing number of reported adverse effects, including acute psychosis, delirium, violent behavior, seizures, and even fatalities. Despite these efforts, the ever-evolving nature of synthetic cannabinoids makes them challenging to regulate effectively.
It is worth noting that the website "herbalpotpourriblend.com" offers various herbal incense blends that are compliant with DEA regulations and legal in all 50 states, including South Carolina. They emphasize the organic and natural ingredients used in their products, assuring customers that they are free from cannabinoids and synthetic chemicals. However, the website also includes a disclaimer stating that customers are responsible for researching their local laws regarding the burning of herbal incense.
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Synthetic cannabinoids are often sprayed onto plant matter
Herbal incense is legal in South Carolina, with many websites advertising "100% legal" and "DEA-compliant" herbal incense products. However, it is important to note that these products are not evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of lab-made substances that are chemically similar to chemicals found in the cannabis plant. They are often sprayed onto plant matter, creating “herbal smoking blends” or “herbal incense” that can be smoked. This practice of combining synthetic cannabinoids with plant matter provides a vehicle for the most common route of administration—smoking. The plant matter may be rolled into cigarette papers or smoked using a pipe or a water pipe.
The synthetic cannabinoids are usually sprayed onto inert vegetable matter or dried, shredded plant material. However, some blends may also contain other psychoactive substances, including psychoactive herbs (such as wild dagga and Indian warrior) and psychoactive alkaloids (such as betonicine, aporphine, leonurine, nuciferine, and nicotine).
Synthetic cannabinoids are designed to mimic the effects of THC, the natural cannabinoid in cannabis that produces psychoactive effects or the "high" associated with marijuana. However, synthetic cannabinoids often have a stronger binding affinity to CB1 receptors, resulting in more potent and unpredictable effects. The specific chemicals used in these products are often unknown, and the lack of extensive testing on these substances makes their impact on the brain even more unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
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Herbal incense is marketed as safe and natural, but it is not
Herbal incense is often marketed as a natural, safe product. However, this could not be further from the truth. While it is often branded as "herbal smoking blend" or "herbal incense", it is a synthetic cannabinoid, and a dangerous one at that. Marketed under product names such as "K2", "Spice", "Blaze", and "Yucatan Fire", among many others, these synthetic cannabinoids are typically sprayed onto plant matter and smoked. They are also ingested in concentrated liquid form.
The only similarity between herbal incense and natural marijuana is that they both contain cannabinoids. However, the cannabinoids in herbal incense have a much more profound impact on the brain. The chemicals used are often unknown and can cause unpredictable and even fatal effects. The synthetic cannabinoids in these products activate the same receptor in the brain that natural cannabinoids like THC do, but to a significantly higher degree.
The dangers of herbal incense are well-documented. Between 2011 and 2014, approximately 20 deaths were attributable to the use of synthetic marijuana, while none were reported from the use of marijuana. In 2018, over 100 people were treated at Washington DC area hospitals in just a few days from overdoses of synthetic marijuana. In 2016, 597 people were treated for overdose by DC Fire. In July 2016, 33 people were intoxicated by an herbal "incense" product called "AK-47 24 Karat Gold", and dozens overdosed in Brooklyn. In September 2018, at least 10 people overdosed on a synthetic cannabinoid in Christchurch over two days. Some of the people were in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit.
In addition to the risk of overdose, herbal incense has been linked to other serious adverse effects, including acute psychosis, delirium, violent behavior, seizures, and cardiovascular emergencies. There have also been reports of kidney failure and life-threatening bleeding caused by rat poison contamination.
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The DEA has banned some herbal incense additives
Herbal incense, also known as synthetic marijuana, is a dangerous trend that is often marketed as natural and safe. However, it is far from being safe or natural. These drugs are typically sold as liquids or shredded plant material with manufactured, mind-altering chemicals sprayed on them. They are intended to be smoked, either rolled into smoking papers or inhaled using an e-cigarette or vaporizer. The plant material can also be made into a tea and ingested.
Synthetic cannabinoids in herbal incense products were first detected in the United States in November 2008 by the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) forensic laboratory. These products were initially encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The DEA and state drug control agencies have recognized the need to monitor and control these chemicals. In 2011, the DEA named some of the most common synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule 1 drugs, making it illegal to use them in the manufacture and sale of herbal drugs. The substances banned by the DEA include JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497, and cannabicyclohexanol.
Before 2011, there were no reported deaths from the use of herbal incense. However, between 2011 and 2014, approximately 20 deaths were attributed to the use of synthetic marijuana, while none were reported from the use of natural marijuana. The chemicals used in synthetic marijuana are often unknown and can cause unpredictable and even fatal effects. The synthetic cannabinoids in these products activate the same receptors in the brain as natural cannabinoids like THC, but to a significantly higher degree. This results in a more profound impact on the brain.
Synthetic marijuana is often sold in legal retail outlets as "herbal incense" and labelled "not for human consumption" to mask its intended purpose and avoid FDA regulatory oversight. It is also sold under common names such as K2, Spice, and synthetic marijuana. The large profits from sales and the ease of synthesizing new chemicals to stay ahead of control indicate that there is little incentive to discontinue the retail distribution of synthetic cannabinoid products. Manufacturers and businesses that sell synthetic marijuana continually alter the chemical composition of their products to stay one step ahead of legislation.
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Herbal incense has dangerous adverse psychiatric effects
While herbal incense is legal in South Carolina, it is important to understand that it has dangerous adverse psychiatric effects. Herbal incense, also known as synthetic marijuana, is a dangerous trend that is often marketed as natural and safe. However, it is far from being safe or natural. These drugs are typically sold as liquids or shredded plant material with manufactured, mind-altering chemicals sprayed onto them. The only similarity between real marijuana and synthetic marijuana is that they both contain cannabinoids. However, the cannabinoids in herbal incense have a much more profound impact on the brain.
The chemicals used in herbal incense are often unknown and can cause unpredictable and even fatal effects. The synthetic cannabinoids in these products activate the same receptors in the brain that natural cannabinoids like THC do, but to a significantly higher degree. This can lead to a wide range of adverse psychiatric and neurological effects, including cerebral arteritis, cerebral oedema, delirium, coma, confusion, encephalopathy, hallucinations, intracerebral haemorrhage, and other types of cerebrovascular accidents, movement disorders, mood disturbances, muscle weakness, paresthesiae, and seizures.
The dangers of herbal incense are not limited to its adverse psychiatric effects. There have been reported cases of life-threatening bleeding caused by herbal incense contaminated with rat poison. Additionally, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has named several common synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule 1 drugs, making it illegal to use them in the manufacture and sale of herbal drugs. Despite this, synthetic marijuana can still be purchased legally due to the large number of variations that make it challenging to legislate.
Furthermore, the smoke released from burning incense has been associated with respiratory problems and an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma. Incense smoke contains various irritants and toxic compounds, including formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene, which can have detrimental effects on human health. Multiple epidemiological studies have indicated the adverse effects of incense burning on lung function and lung function development, particularly in children.
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Frequently asked questions
Herbal incense is legal in South Carolina as long as it does not contain THC. However, it is important to note that some herbal incense products may be laced with synthetic compounds that are not legal.
Herbal incense is made from organic herbs and plants, while cannabis is a plant that contains THC, the chemical compound that produces a high.
You can buy herbal incense from various online stores that sell premium and legal hemp cannabinoids, such as The Hemp Doctor, which serves areas like Charleston, Clemson, and Greenville.
