Spice (Synthetic Marijuana) : False Advertising

Spice
(Synthetic Marijuana)
Spice refers to a wide variety of herbal
mixtures that produce experiences simi-
lar to marijuana (cannabis) and that are
marketed as safe, legal alternatives to
that drug. Sold under many names, in-
cluding K2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire,
Skunk, Moon Rocks, and othersand la-
beled not for human consumption
these products contain dried, shredded
plant material and chemical additives
that are responsible for their psychoac-
tive (mind-altering) effects.
False Advertising
Labels on Spice products often claim
that they contain natural psycho-
active material taken from a variety
of plants. Spice products do contain
dried plant material, but chemical
analyses show that their active in-
gredients are synthetic (or designer)
cannabinoid compounds.
For several years, Spice mixtures have
been easy to purchase in head shops and
gas stations and via the Internet. Be-
cause the chemicals used in Spice have a
high potential for abuse and no medical
benefit, the Drug Enforcement Admin-
istration (DEA) has designated the five
active chemicals most frequently
found in Spice as Schedule I controlled

substances, making it illegal to sell, buy,
or possess them. Manufacturers of Spice
products attempt to evade these legal re-
strictions by substituting different chem-
icals in their mixtures, while the DEA
continues to monitor the situation
and evaluate the need for updating the
list of banned cannabinoids.

Spice products are popular among young
people; of the illicit drugs most used by
high-school seniors, they are second only
to marijuana. (They are more popular
among boys than girlsin 2012, nearly
twice as many male 12th graders report-
ed past-year use of synthetic marijuana
as females in the same age group.) Easy
access and the misperception that Spice
products are natural and therefore
harmless have likely contributed to their
popularity. Another selling point is that
the chemicals used in Spice are not easily
detected in standard drug tests.

Past-Year Use of Illicit Drugs by
High School Seniors (percent)
Marijuana/Hashish
36.4
SyntheBc Marijuana
11.3
Hallucinogens
4.8
Salvia
4.4
MDMA (Ecstasy)
3.8
Cocaine
2.7
20
40
SOURCE: University of Michigan, 2012 Monitoring the Future Study
Spice (Synthetic Marijuana) December 2012 Page 1
How Is Spice Abused?

Some Spice products are sold as in-
cense, but they more closely resemble
potpourri. Like marijuana, Spice is
abused mainly by smoking. Sometimes
Spice is mixed with marijuana or is pre-
pared as an herbal infusion for drinking.
K2, a popular brand of Spice m ixture.

How Does Spice Affect the Brain?

Spice users report experiences similar to
those produced by marijuanaelevated
mood, relaxation, and altered percep-
tionand in some cases the effects are
even stronger than those of marijuana.
Some users report psychotic effects like
extreme anxiety, paranoia, and hallucina-
tions.

So far, there have been no scientific stud-
ies of Spices effects on the human brain,
but we do know that the cannabinoid
compounds found in Spice products act
on the same cell receptors as THC, the
primary psychoactive component of ma-
rijuana. Some of the compounds found in
Spice, however, bind more strongly to

those receptors, which could lead to a
much more powerful and unpredictable
effect. Because the chemical composition
of many products sold as Spice is un-
known, it is likely that some varieties al-
so contain substances that could cause
dramatically different effects than the
user might expect.

What Are the Other Health Effects of
Spice?

Spice abusers who have been taken to
Poison Control Centers report symptoms
that include rapid heart rate, vomiting,
agitation, confusion, and hallucinations.
Spice can also raise blood pressure and
cause reduced blood supply to the heart
(myocardial ischemia), and in a few cas-
es it has been associated with heart at-
tacks. Regular users may experience
withdrawal and addiction symptoms.
We still do not know all the ways Spice
may affect human health or how toxic it
may be, but one public health concern is
that there may be harmful heavy metal
residues in Spice mixtures. Without fur-
ther analyses, it is difficult to determine
whether this concern is justified.

Learn More

For additional information on Spice, see
http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attache
ments.cfm/att_80086_EN_Spice%20The
matic%20paper%20
%20final%20version.pdf

Spice (Synthetic Marijuana) December 2012 Page 2

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Spice

found in Spice as Schedule I controlled

SOURCE: University of Michigan, 2012 Monitoring the Future Study

Spice (Synthetic Marijuana) December 2012 Page 1

How Is Spice Abused?

K2, a popular brand of Spice m ixture.

Spice, however, bind more strongly to

Spice (Synthetic Marijuana) December 2012 Page 2

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