Cannabis is a miraculous plant that grows all over this green Earth. So why would anyone want something like synthetic weed? What is commonly known as K2 or spice, this fake version of the real thing has popped up all over the news during the last few years. If you are feeling confused, you’re not the only one. So how did this drug come about? Why do people buy it when they can buy marijuana online? Why is it so dangerous?
The most important thing to understand about synthetic weed is that it’s essentially a combination of manmade chemicals that interact with the brain’s cannabinoid receptors. So, when you buy a baggie of synthetic weed, you probably won’t know which lab-created cannabinoid chemical you could be getting. Manufacturers also have an incentive to shuffle ingredients around; they can stay within legal limits, and not worry as much about quality control. Bags will often be marketed as “incense,” “potpourri,” and some may even say “not suitable for human consumption.”
Synthetic weed was conceived by Clemson University professor John W Huffman, who created over 450 synthetic cannabinoid compounds as part of cancer and AIDS research beginning in 1984. Ultimately, the creation of this fake weed and his twenty years of research led to the conclusion that synthetics are highly addictive and can cause psychotic episodes. Essentially, it’s far from being therapeutic. Huffman himself said that “people who use it are idiots. You don’t know what it’s going to do to you.” It’s true.
Manufactured cannabinoids can be anywhere from 2 to 100 times stronger than THC. Side effects are widespread and include nausea, catatonia, vomiting, elevated heart rate, and hallucinations. These chemicals have also been linked to kidney failure and death. In the first 4 months of 2015, 15 US citizens died from overdoses. If cannabis is illegal in your area, fake weed, which is often legal and very cheap, becomes an attractive alternative. In the United States, the spice was legal until the DEA caught on in 2013. But for many addicts, it was already too late. K2’s colorful packaging with labels like Scooby Snax and Mojo, makes it seem less harmful than the traditional weed that can be bought from online dispensaries, click here to check some outstanding online weed products. And for people subjected to drug testing, like those in the military or athletes, the spice becomes their primary option since synthetic weed often does not show up on urine-based drug tests, unlike Canadian Juice Monsters.
What does the future look like for this dangerous drug? While law enforcement may be powerless when it comes to this chemical cat-and-mouse game and politicians can encourage the recreational use of legal drugs as an alternative. They can also decriminalize drug offenses. Legalizing marijuana pricing, especially in areas most afflicted with Spice addiction can help addicts learn to create a healthy relationship with cannabinoid products like Pineapple Express strain. Employers willing to loosen drug testing requirements to exclude marijuana could also stave off epidemics of people choosing spice just to keep their jobs. In the meantime, don’t even think about trying K2 because like most things, nothing is as good as the real deal.