Emergence of Synthetic Cannabinoids as Drugs of Abuse
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v16i1.17422Keywords:
Cannabis; THC; drug abuse; toxicityAbstract
Cannabis has been the most commonly used drug throughout the world for centuries. The psychoactive
properties of cannabis are largely attributed to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the active psychoactive
ingredient in the cannabis plant. Lately, new psychoactive substances (NPS) have appeared that are
mostly ruled by cathinone’s and synthetic cannabinoids (SCs). SC’s have emerged as drugs of abuse
because of their ability to mimic the euphoric effects of THC. Sprayed on natural herb mixtures, they
were initially sold as ‘herbal incense’ or ‘herbal smoking blends’ as substitutes for cannabis. These
synthetic drugs became popular as ‘legal highs’ under brand names such as Spice, K2, Mojo and many
others in the early 2000’s. SC’s stimulate the same CB1 and CB2 receptors as THC but they are linked
to higher toxicity in terms of duration and severity than cannabis. This is because SC’s act as direct
agonist of cannabinoid receptors, whereas THC being a partial agonist. Reports suggest that SC’s are
associated with a range of undesired pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal effects. Long term SC
use is also linked to severe cognitive deficits. With the global rise in use of SC products, it is important
to develop and validate the screening procedures and investigate the toxicological and pharmacological
aspects and risk factors associated with its use and abuse.
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