Synthetic cannabinoids

Synthetic cannabinoids, or neocannabinoids, are a class of designer drug molecules that bind to the same receptors to which cannabinoids (THC, CBD and many others) in cannabis plants attach. These novel psychoactive substances should not be confused with synthetic phytocannabinoids (obtained by chemical synthesis) or synthetic endocannabinoids from which they are distinct in many aspects.

Typically, synthetic cannabinoids are sprayed onto plant matter and are usually smoked, although they have also been ingested as a concentrated liquid form in the United States and United Kingdom since 2016. They have been marketed as herbal incense, or “herbal smoking blends”, and sold under common names such as K2, Five Spice, spice, and synthetic marijuana.They are often labeled “not for human consumption” for liability defense. A large and complex variety of cannabinoids are designed in an attempt to avoid legal restrictions on cannabis, making synthetic cannabinoids designer drugs.