SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS: A NEW GENERATION MARIHUANA -
March 15, 2017 A. Dip, M. K. Gülmen, Nebile Dağlıoğlu et al.
Synthetic cannabinoids, sold as "herbal incense" under names like Spice and K2, are functionally similar to THC but often stronger and riskier. Common symptoms include loss of consciousness, paranoid hallucinations, pallor, tremors, and seizures; some may have carcinogenic potential. Their popularity among teens and adults has grown rapidly worldwide. In the authors' country, some have been prohibited since 2010 via an Early Warning System, but new formulations evolve quickly, making detection difficult because they lack cross-reactivity in standard drug tests and there is no common mass or ultraviolet library. The authors present a general approach to these compounds.