Kontakt 2012, 14(3):369-377 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.039

New synthetic cannabinoids are coming to the drug sceneBiomedicine - Review

Jiří Patočka^1,*, Kamil Kuča^2,3

¹ Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, katedra radiologie a toxikologie

² Fakulta vojenského zdravotnictví UO, centrum pokročilých studií, Hradec Králové

³ Fakulta vojenského zdravotnictví UO, katedra toxikologie, Hradec Králové

On internet and in specialized shops, certain herbaceous mixtures marked "spices" or "spice drugs" have already been sold since 2004. The mixtures are advertised as exotic mixture of incense releasing rich aroma. Some users smoking these mixtures feel similar effects as after the hemp. The "spice drugs" enjoy great interest in the drug scene, since they offer a legal possibility of acquiring hemp substitutes. Forensic analyses demonstrated that in certain species of "spice drugs", there are synthetic cannabinoids, strong agonists of cannabinoid receptors, as e.g. JWH-018, JWH-073, CP 47,497 and HU-210. These drugs are technically quite legal and are not subjected to any ban. There are only few data concerning their pharmacological characteristics in animals but not their toxicity. Nearly nothing has been yet known about pharmacology, toxicology and safety profile of these substances in humans except for opinions of consumers at internet fora. Neither herbaceous components of the "spice drugs" nor any synthetic cannabinoids present in them are subjected to international control in the sense of the UN convention on the drug control. Certain European countries recently adopted legal steps leading to a ban or control of "spice drugs" and similar substances. These cannabinoid substances are considered as new products, which should be added to the list of narcotic and psychotropic substances.

Keywords: "spice drugs"; synthetic cannabinoids; JWH-018; CP 47,497; HU-210; health risk

Received: April 2, 2012; Accepted: July 24, 2012; Published: September 27, 2012  Show citation