Beware of False Advertising!
Synthetic cannabinoids get their name from their similarity to chemicals found in the cannabis plant. Because of this similarity, synthetic cannabinoids are sometimes misleadingly called synthetic marijuana (or fake weed), and they are often marketed as safe, legal alternatives to that drug. However, they are not safe and may affect the brain much more powerfully than marijuana. Their actual effects can be unpredictable and, in some cases, more dangerous or even life-threatening.
Not All-Natural
Synthetic cannabinoids are part of a group of drugs called new psychoactive substances (NPS). NPS are unregulated, mind-altering substances that have become newly available on the market and are intended to produce the same effects as illegal drugs.
Synthetic cannabinoid products are often labeled “not for human consumption.” Labels also often claim that they contain natural material taken from a variety of plants. However, the only parts of these products that are natural are the dried plant materials. Chemical tests show that the active, mind-altering ingredients are cannabinoid compounds made in laboratories.
Misleading Manufacturing
Manufacturers sell these products in colorful foil packages and plastic bottles to attract consumers. They market these products under a wide variety of brand names, including K2, Spice, Joker, Black Mamba, Kush, and Kronic.
For several years, synthetic cannabinoid mixtures have been easy to buy in drug paraphernalia shops, novelty stores, gas stations, and over the internet. Because the chemicals used in them have no medical benefit and a high potential for abuse, authorities have made it illegal to sell, buy, or possess some of these chemicals. However, manufacturers try to sidestep these laws by changing the chemical formulas in their mixtures. Some of these substances may have been around for years but have re-entered the market in altered chemical forms, or due to renewed popularity.