To understand why this drug is so dangerous it is important to understand exactly what it is. It is not the same thing as natural marijuana, also known as cannabis, but the manufacturers of these products want consumers to believe that it is the same. Natural marijuana contains multiple compounds called cannabinoids that have mind-altering and medicinal properties. THC is the main cannabinoid that causes the high and other effects people experience when using marijuana.
Synthetic marijuana products are made to mimic natural cannabinoids. They are produced in a lab and are then sprayed onto dried plant material to resemble marijuana, or dissolved in liquids to be used in vaporizers or e-cigarettes. They are sometimes called liquid incense, herbals, or other names that are misleading and make them seem safe.
Synthetic cannabinoids manufactured to make these products belong to a class of drugs called new psychoactive substances, or NPSs. They are unregulated, and for the consumer it is impossible to know what the substances are that they are purchasing. NPSs, including synthetic cannabinoids, have been around for a long time, but those who make and sell them are constantly changing the names, the chemical makeup, and the marketing strategies.
Some of the brand names of synthetic marijuana products are K2, Spice, Black Mamba, Joker, Kronic, Kush, Mr. Happy, AK-47, Scooby Snax, and No More Mr. Nice Guy, but these are always changing as their makers try to push what seem like new, safer products.
