By RQS Editorial Team

The cannabis plant and its constituents have repeatedly been shown to demonstrate low toxicity. Unfortunately, this is far from the case with many synthetic cannabinoids. These lab-designed compounds have made their way into the recreational market, where they pose some very serious risks to consumers.

For the sake of your health, continue reading to find out what synthetic cannabinoids are, and why (in almost all cases) you should avoid using them.


Understanding Synthetic Cannabinoids

Perhaps you’ve heard of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) like “Spice” or “K2” from your friends, or maybe you’ve even used them yourself. In that case, we’d recommend ceasing the use of these substances immediately, as they are much more menacing than they may appear.

Cannabis Spice

What Are Synthetic Cannabinoids?

At their core, synthetic cannabinoids are simply cannabinoids created in a lab environment. Historically, most synthetic cannabinoids are created to mimic one compound in particular—THC. There are several reasons one might purchase and use synthetic cannabinoids:

  • Legal high: As many forms of synthetic THC are structurally distinct from the natural cannabinoid, it’s often possible for manufacturers to sell these products in areas where cannabis is not legal by exploiting legal loopholes[1], or even labelling products as not intended for consumption. For example, certain forms of synthetic marijuana (like K2 weed) are marketed as incense.
  • To pass a drug test: Given that synthetic cannabinoids tend to have a distinct chemical structure from natural THC, some individuals may choose the former in order to pass a drug test.
  • By accident: The unfortunate reality is that synthetic cannabinoids also make their way into/onto natural cannabis flower and plant material. Shady producers will sometimes adulterate a poor-quality product with synthetic THC, which can have serious implications.

But when did this all begin? Although synthetic cannabinoids have been around in some form for decades, it was in 2008 that German pharmaceutical companies detected a substance known as JWH-018 in at least three versions of Spice—one of the first synthetic cannabinoid products.

Upon banning the substance, German Spice producers simply altered the alkyl chain of JWH-018 in order to keep selling their product without technically breaking the law. The problem is, JWH-018 isn’t just a synthetic version of THC. Unlike THC, it is a full agonist of CB1 and CB2 receptors. In fact, it has been shown to exhibit five times the affinity for CB1 receptors as natural THC, causing intense effects that come with some grave risks.

To give you an idea of just how grave, JWH-018 and other synthetic cannabinoids are associated with numerous deaths. Indeed, in 2011, a South Carolina college student’s death was attributed to JWH-018, while Aaron Josef Hernandez, an NFL player, committed suicide shortly after using K2 in prison. Inmates reported he "was not himself" after using the drug, in the run up to his death.

Synthetic Cannabis

How Synthetic Cannabinoids Are Used in Research

Now, as threatening as these substances can be, there are some instances in which synthetic cannabinoids have legitimate purposes. Namely, in research projects and clinical applications.

While many researchers would rather work with natural cannabis in their preclinical and clinical studies, the strict scheduling of cannabis makes it very difficult to legally acquire natural plant material. Therefore, researchers are left to use synthetic cannabinoids in order to study the workings of the endocannabinoid system and other physiological systems. While these synthetic compounds present their own issues, including excessive side effects in some cases, they at least allow researchers to get closer to understanding the therapeutic potential, and health risks, of cannabinoids.

In some cases, SCs have legitimate medical applications. For example, dronabinol is an approved form of synthetic THC that is prescribed to people with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and HIV/AIDS-induced anorexia. Though not without its drawbacks, this form of synthetic THC has been shown to demonstrate good therapeutic efficacy and relatively mild adverse effects. Originally created in the mid-1980s, dronabinol inadvertently set the stage for the creation of other novel synthetic cannabinoids, including those like Spice and K2.

Synthetic Cannabinoids: A Growing Cause for Concern

In both Europe and the United States, synthetic cannabinoids have become a major public health issue, with 209 substances[2] detected through the EU Early Warning System from 2008–2020. Since the mid-aughts, these substances have found their way into prisons, been used to adulterate other products, or been mislabelled as other products. During this time, SCs have been found to be toxic, especially in high doses, and have caused mass poisonings in Europe, Russia, Canada, and the US.

The threat to health and safety caused by natural cannabis is nowhere near as severe as that caused by synthetic cannabinoids. In mild cases, synthetic THC can cause intense, uncomfortable effects such as confusion, elevated heart rate, and vomiting, while more severe cases can see people experience psychosis, suicidal ideations, and even death.

In some instances, adulterants like rat poison[3], aka brodifacoum, have even been found in synthetic cannabinoids, leading to “unexplained bruising, coughing up blood, bleeding from the nose and gums…” and death.

Until 2016, when the Psychoactive Substances Act was passed, synthetic cannabinoids could be bought legally at head shops in the UK. Now, the legality of SCs is very nebulous, and varies across the EU and UK. In the latter, synthetic cannabinoids like Spice and K2 are deemed Class B drugs, meaning users and producers can be fined or jailed, to different degrees. However, as many producers change the chemical structure of these substances, they may be able to circumvent some of these repercussions.

In various parts of the EU, including France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, and Germany, many forms of synthetic cannabis have been illegal since the late 2000s. However, today, the laws surrounding synthetic cannabinoids vary year by year, and by country, as many new substances are created all the time. For instance, in Germany, around 80–90% of synthetic cannabinoids are banned, with the remaining 10–20% representing chemical structures not covered by these laws. Meanwhile, in Spain, Spice and other synthetic cannabinoids are unregulated, and can legally be bought, sold, and shipped.

Ultimately, as there are always new synthetic cannabinoids being created, the legal landscape surrounding these substances is murky and subject to change.

Natural Synthetic

Dangers of Synthetic Cannabinoids

Though we’ve addressed some of the dangers of using synthetic cannabinoids, below we will review them in greater detail. As mentioned, synthetic forms of THC act as full agonists of CB1 and CB2, whereas natural THC is a partial agonist. While to the uniformed this may not seem like a big deal, this increased binding affinity has a massive impact on the magnitude of effects and safety of these substances.

Memory Impairment

In a 2020 research article[4], researchers found repeated use of synthetic cannabinoids to be “associated with impairment in executive functions and emotional processing”. They go on to note that these cognitive impairments are associated with depression and “schizotypal traits and symptoms” (e.g. paranoid thoughts, unusual perceptions, etc.). Ultimately, the study authors conclude that this evidence adds to the existing data surrounding the long-term adverse effects of synthetic cannabinoids on mental health.

Breathing Difficulties and Lung Inflammation

Among other studies, a piece of research[5] published in 2017 found synthetic cannabinoids to cause respiratory depression, even in people without an underlying pulmonary disease. As such, the study authors recommend that clinicians have a “high index of suspicion” regarding the use of these substances, especially in individuals with a history of drug overdose.

Moreover, studies on mice[6] have shown SCs to potentially cause lung inflammation through their interaction with CB1 receptors, which the study authors suggest may call into question the use of CB1 antagonists for dealing with SC-induced lung inflammation.

Extreme Anxiety and Psychosis

In addition to cognitive impairments, individuals who use synthetic weed are more likely to experience paranoia and anxiety[7]—and this is especially true for those with existing mental health conditions.

Moreover, both vulnerable and healthy individuals[8] have been found to experience severe psychotic symptoms[9] following use of SCs, which have been shown to last for weeks in some circumstances.

Suicidal Ideation

Similarly, instances of suicidal ideation[10] and self-harm appear to increase among both vulnerable and healthy individuals who use synthetic cannabinoids. While the full implications of this are unclear, the potential increase in psychotic symptoms associated with SCs could contribute to such instances.

Cannabis Spice

Chest Pain and Tachycardia

SCs may also cause elevated heart rate, aka tachycardia, as well as chest pain. One 2021 research article[11] found the two greatest sympathetic nervous system cardiovascular effects of SCs to be tachycardia and hypertension. Though tachycardia is not always cause for concern, in some instances it can cause fainting, heart failure, or death.

Gastrointestinal Issues

There is also evidence to suggest an association between synthetic cannabinoid use and GI issues. A 2021 research article[12] found SCs to be capable of causing everything from abdominal pain and vomiting to intestinal ischemia.

Death

Finally, as we’ve referenced above, there have been numerous reports of deaths directly associated with synthetic cannabinoid exposure, with 165 deaths reported[13] in the UK from 2012 to 2019. The majority of these deaths were attributed to acute use, though cardiorespiratory complications appeared to play a part in 13.4% of the reported cases.

This is in sharp comparison to natural cannabis, which is associated with essentially no deaths. While there is some debate over this, the risk of death due to cannabis toxicity alone is negligible[14].

Synthetic Cannabinoids: Not Worth the Risk

As we’ve made evident throughout this article, the risks of synthetic cannabinoids far outweigh the potential benefit of getting high. Aside from their use in very specific clinical settings, these designer cannabinoids are simply not worth experimenting with. Whether you have any preexisting health conditions or not, SCs appear to be able to cause or exacerbate all sorts of conditions and symptoms. Even if you find legal versions of Spice, K2, or other SCs, leave them be.

It’s better to take the time to grow your own weed from seed than it is to put your health at risk by using something promising a “legal high”. Be wise, and always do your due diligence before taking any psychoactive substance.

External Resources:
  1. Hijacking of Basic Research: The Case of Synthetic Cannabinoids - PMC https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. New report highlights public health and social risks posed by synthetic cannabinoids in Europe | www.emcdda.europa.eu https://www.emcdda.europa.eu
  3. The Spice of Death: The Science behind Tainted 'Synthetic Marijuana' | Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com
  4. Frontiers | Chronic Use of Synthetic Cannabinoids Is Associated With Impairment in Working Memory and Mental Flexibility https://www.frontiersin.org
  5. Synthetic cannabinoid induced acute respiratory depression: Case series and literature review - PMC https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. Synthetic cannabinoids induce acute lung inflammation via cannabinoid receptor 1 activation | European Respiratory Society https://openres.ersjournals.com
  7. Synthetic cannabinoids (Spice) | NHS inform https://www.nhsinform.scot
  8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006322316000834
  9. Frontiers | Synthetic and Non-synthetic Cannabinoid Drugs and Their Adverse Effects-A Review From Public Health Prospective https://www.frontiersin.org
  10. Suicidal ideation and self-harm following K2 use - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  11. Assessing and Addressing Synthetic Cannabinoids and Cathinones in Neuropsychiatric Toxicological Emergencies https://www.psychiatrictimes.com
  12. Gastrointestinal manifestations of synthetic cannabinoids: a retrospective cohort study | BMC Gastroenterology | Full Text https://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com
  13. Synthetic Cannabinoid-Related Deaths in England, 2012-2019 - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  14. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811221115760
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: