Natural and synthetic cannabinoids. Mechanism of action, drug addiction and associated risk factors
Александр Ливиевич Ураков, Aleksandr V. Samorodov, Любовь Валерьевна Ловцова, Inessa Ya. Moiseeva, Mithun Rudrapal
Reviews on Clinical Pharmacology and Drug Therapy February 6, 2026 DOI: 10.17816/rcf691622 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction |
| Key findings | The text describes that cannabinoids from natural and synthetic sources act as hallucinogens and are not destroyed by heat or gastric acid, so they remain active when smoked or ingested. It reports that inhaled cannabinoids take effect within 15-20 seconds and last 1-3 hours, while ingested forms begin after 30-60 minutes and last up to 6 hours, producing dizziness, weakness, hallucinations, and impaired coordination and thinking. |
Abstract
It has been shown that the grass, stems, leaves and inflorescences of wild and cultivated cannabis[1] contain cannabinoids, which, like synthetic cannabinoids, have a hallucinogenic effect. The continuing increase in the abuse of hallucinogens from the group of natural and synthetic cannabinoids among young people, the widespread use of cultivated and wild cannabis, as well as the medical use of cannabinoids as drugs in the treatment of cancer and mental disorders, pose a risk of developing mental dependence and the prevalence of drug addiction in society. It is indicated that among drug addicts and youth, the names cannabis[1], marijuana[1] and hashish[1] refer to drugs made from cannabis[1] herb (Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica). Due to the fact that cannabinoids are not destroyed by high temperature (they do not burn in fire) and hydrochloric acid of gastric juice, they retain a hallucinogenic effect when inhaled as part of smoke and ingested as part of extracts. Most often, the cannabis is used to produce smoking mixtures known as spice, aroma mix, macon, as well as resin known as hashish[1]. Hashish and the glandular trichomes of the flowering tops of female cannabis plants contain more cannabinoids than other cannabis[1] plant products. It is indicated that inhalation of smoke from smoking mixtures into the body and enteral administration of liquid cannabis[1]extract causes drug addicts to improve their mood and allow them to have fun. The main cannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). It has been shown that after inhaling smoke with natural or synthetic cannabinoids, the narcotic effect in drug addicts begins to develop after 15–20 s, reaches its maximum value after 10–30 min and lasts up to 1–3 h, but can be prolonged by repeated smoke inhalation (smoking). After ingestion of cannabinoids in effective doses, the narcotic effect can begin to develop after 30–60 min, after which it usually reaches a maximum after 1.5–2.0 h and lasts up to 6 h (sometimes longer). At the same time, a person experiences dizziness, weakness throughout the body, auditory and visual hallucinations, loses coordination in movements and the ability to think correctly. [1] A substance prohibited in the Russian Federation.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. | 2013 | Review | |
| The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 11
- Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review BMC Psychiatry January 16, 2020
- Double-blind comparison of the two hallucinogens psilocybin and dextromethorphan: similarities and differences in subjective experiences. Psychopharmacology February 1, 2018
- “Hallucinations” Following Acute Cannabis Dosing: A Case Report and Comparison to Other Hallucinogenic Drugs Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research April 2, 2018
- Fascination and Social Togetherness-Discussions about Spice Smoking on a Swedish Internet Forum. Substance abuse : research and treatment 2013
- Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for depression: Emerging research on a psychedelic compound with a rich history. Journal of Neurological Sciences December 1, 2021
and 6 more in the library