Antonio Mcgowan
Synthetic cannabinoids, also known as Spice, K2, herbal incense, Cloud 9, and Mojo, are becoming a growing public health concern due to their increasing use and unpredictable toxicity and abuse potential. These synthetic cannabinoids are often laced in herbal smoking products that are readily available online and in head shops. While standard drug tests typically only screen for the compound THC, newer urine drug tests may detect all cannabinoids, including CBD, CBA, and CBG. However, it is important to note that the compounds in herbal blends are not deemed illegal by governments and are not on the list of trackable compounds for a standard drug test.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Herbal incense | Also known as "Spice", "K2", "Cloud 9", "Mojo", "Kush" and "fake weed" |
| Contains synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs) that are chemical compounds that mimic the effects of THC | |
| SCBs are associated with higher rates of toxicity and hospital admissions than natural cannabis | |
| SCBs are direct agonists of cannabinoid receptors, whereas THC is a partial agonist | |
| SCBs may interact unpredictably and may contain unknown contaminants | |
| Standard drug tests are only looking for the compound THC | |
| Newer urine drug tests are looking for all cannabinoids, including CBD, CBA and CBG | |
| Cannabinoids stay in your system for 3-4 days with occasional usage and 7-15 days with chronic usage | |
| False positives can occur, especially with cannabinoid testing if you ingest too much hemp milk or hemp seeds |
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What You'll Learn
Synthetic cannabinoids in herbal incense
Synthetic cannabinoids are human-made mind-altering chemicals that are either sprayed on dried, shredded plant material or sold as liquids to be vaporized and inhaled in e-cigarettes or other devices. They are designed to mimic the effects of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and are often marketed as "herbal incense", "potpourri", "herbal smoking blends", or "synthetic marijuana".
Synthetic cannabinoids are often sold under brand names such as “Spice”, “K2”, “Cloud 9”, “Mojo”, and many others. These products are abused for their psychoactive properties and can produce effects similar to or stronger than THC and marijuana. They are often packaged without information about their health and safety risks and may contain unknown contaminants.
Synthetic cannabinoids were first detected in herbal blends in 2008 and have since become a large public health concern due to their increasing use and unpredictable toxicity and abuse potential. They have been associated with higher rates of toxicity and hospital admissions than natural cannabis. This is likely due to synthetic cannabinoids being direct agonists of cannabinoid receptors, whereas THC is only a partial agonist.
There are five major categories of synthetic cannabinoids: classical cannabinoids, non-classical cannabinoids, hybrid cannabinoids, aminoalkylindoles, and eicosanoids. Classical cannabinoids, such as nabilone and dronabinol, were the first synthetic cannabinoids to be developed in the 1960s. However, they are not commonly found in synthetic cannabinoid blends for recreational use due to the difficulty of synthesis. Instead, newer synthetic cannabinoids such as AKB-48, XLR-11, AB-PINACA, 5F-ADB, and AB-FUBINACA have been appearing in these blends, offering a high that is reportedly four times stronger than marijuana.
The use of synthetic cannabinoids can lead to adverse health effects, including tachycardia (elevated heart rate), elevated blood pressure, unconsciousness, tremors, seizures, vomiting, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, pallor, numbness, and tingling. There have also been cases of severe bleeding caused by synthetic cannabinoids contaminated with brodifacoum, a rat poison.
Synthetic cannabinoids can be detected in drug tests. Immunoassay screens and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) can be used to detect synthetic cannabinoid metabolites in urine and oral fluid samples. The presence of the parent drug in saliva can also confirm ingestion, with an average detection window of up to 24-48 hours.
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Standard drug tests
Spice was originally created as a "legal" alternative to cannabis that would not show up on drug tests. However, due to health concerns and its increasing use, efforts have been made to develop analytical tests to detect synthetic cannabinoids in herbal blends. While the original compounds found in Spice products have been made illegal, the manufacturers of these products frequently change their ingredients to avoid government scrutiny and detection in drug tests.
The active ingredients in herbal incense are synthetic cannabinoids that bind to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, producing effects similar to those of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) found in natural cannabis. These synthetic cannabinoids are full agonists of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), resulting in higher rates of toxicity and hospital admissions compared to natural cannabis. The specific chemical structures and interactions of these compounds can be unpredictable, posing additional health risks to users.
In summary, standard drug tests are unlikely to detect herbal incense or Spice. However, specialized tests can identify certain synthetic cannabinoids, and the field of drug testing continues to adapt to detect new substances and compounds.
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'Spice' and 'K2' herbal incense products
Spice and K2 are two of the many trade names or brands for synthetic designer drugs that are intended to mimic THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. These designer synthetic drugs are from the synthetic cannabinoid class of drugs, which are often marketed and sold as "herbal incense" or "potpourri". They are abused for their psychoactive properties and are packaged without information about their health and safety risks.
Spice and K2 are becoming a large public health concern due to their increasing use and unpredictable toxicity and abuse potential. They are often laced in herbal smoking products that are readily available on the internet and in many head shops. These products are sold under names such as K2, K3 Legal, Spice, Syn, Haze, Cloud Nine, Serenity, and many others.
The pharmacology of the active components in Spice and K2 was largely uncharacterized, and confirmation of SCB use was hindered by a lack of known biomarkers. However, scientists have been working to identify the ever-changing contents of these products, determine the metabolic pathways and major urinary metabolites of commonly abused SCBs, and identify active metabolites that may contribute to the adverse effects of SCBs.
The psychoactive constituent of marijuana, Δ9-THC, is found in K2 products. The first generation of SCBs commonly found in K2 products were controlled by the US Federal Government after the emergence of K2 products. The presence of the parent drug in saliva confirms ingestion, with an average detection window of up to 24-48 hours. Immunoassay screens are now available for some synthetic cannabinoids, with LC-MS/MS being used to confirm presumptive positive specimens for synthetic cannabinoid metabolites in urine.
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Herbal incense as cannabimimetics
Synthetic cannabinoids, also known as designer cannabinoids, are research chemicals that affect the endocannabinoid signalling system (ECS). They produce a marijuana-like "high" and are often laced in herbal smoking products. These products are sold under various brand names, including "Spice", "K2", "herbal incense", "Cloud 9", and "Mojo".
Herbal incense products, such as those branded as "Spice" or "K2", have been widely available for purchase in "head shops" and online. While some product ingredients may be listed on the package, if they are laced with synthetic cannabimimetics, these additions and their amounts are not disclosed. The cannabimimetics present in the early wave of incense products have been banned by most governments worldwide, but this has not stopped the production of new designer cannabimimetics.
Synthetic cannabinoids in herbal blends were first detected in 2008. These synthetic cannabinoids were originally designed for laboratory testing only but have since found recreational use in designer herbal blends. The compounds found in these blends are potent full agonists of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), producing effects similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and marijuana.
Drug discrimination techniques can be used to determine whether these new synthetic compounds share a similar "subjective high" with the effects of marijuana/THC. By understanding the psychopharmacology of these new designer cannabinoids, we can better treat the acute and chronic effects of their use.
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False positives in cannabinoid testing
Herbal incense, also known as "Spice," "K2," "Mojo," and other brand names, contain synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs) that can cause a positive drug test result. SCBs are full agonists of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), producing effects similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in marijuana. While herbal incense products are often marketed as "natural" and "organic," they can contain synthetic chemicals that may not be detectable in standard drug tests.
It is important to note that drug tests can vary in their methods and sensitivity. Immunoassay tests, for example, are commonly used for initial screening due to their low cost and quick turnaround time. However, they are not fail-safe and can produce false positives for THC due to interference from certain substances. For example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen have been associated with false-positive cannabinoid test results in rare cases. Other medications such as efavirenz (an antiretroviral drug) and hemp seed oil have also been implicated in false-positive cannabinoid test results.
To confirm a positive immunoassay result, a follow-up test using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is recommended. GC-MS provides a more definitive analysis by identifying specific metabolites associated with cannabinoid use. This technique is more sensitive and specific than immunoassay testing and can help distinguish between true positives and false positives.
It is worth mentioning that passive inhalation of cannabis smoke is unlikely to result in a positive drug test, especially when using the standard screening threshold of 50 ng/mL. However, if you are frequently exposed to secondhand cannabis smoke, trace amounts of THC may be detected in your urine. In such cases, a second confirmatory test would be necessary to establish a positive result.
Additionally, certain prescription and over-the-counter medications can trigger false positives in drug tests. For example, phentermine, a prescription appetite suppressant, can be chemically similar to amphetamines and may raise flags in drug screens if not medically justified. Antidepressants like bupropion (Wellbutrin) and fluoxetine (Prozac) are also known to have the potential for unexpected results in immunoassay tests.
In summary, herbal incense products containing synthetic cannabinoids can lead to positive drug test results. However, false positives can also occur due to various factors, including interference from certain medications, passive inhalation, and sensitivity of the test methods. Confirming positive immunoassay results with GC-MS testing or other definitive techniques is crucial to avoid incorrect interpretations.
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Frequently asked questions
Herbal incense blends that are laced with synthetic cannabinoids will likely show up on a drug test. However, standard drug tests only look for the compound THC, and herbal incense blends made solely by herbalists without synthetic cannabinoids will not show up on these tests.
Synthetic cannabinoids are chemical compounds that mimic the effects of THC. They are created in laboratories and are sprayed on herbal mixtures. These are often marketed as "fake weed", "legal high", or "synthetic marijuana".
Herbal incense blends are often sold under brand names such as "Spice", "K2", "Cloud 9", "Mojo", "Kush", and "Syn".
Synthetic cannabinoids have been associated with higher rates of toxicity and hospital admissions compared to natural cannabis. There have been reports of kidney failure and seizures, highlighting the potential dangers of these compounds.
