States With Legal Cannabis See Less Problems Due To Synthetic Marijuana
by MADELINE FERGUSON
Recently it came to light that states with legalized adult-use cannabis have less people consuming synthetic marijuana like K2 and spice, which can be dangerous.
What Is Synthetic Marijuana?
Things like K2 and Spice, which are lab chemicals made to mimic the effects of THC, are harder to detect on drug tests but potentially dangerous to users. The chemicals are sprayed onto plant material or used in edible form for consumption and consumed in ways you’d consume real cannabis products.
It’s hard to know exactly what chemicals can be found in Spice or K2 because it varies greatly and is not regulated, so you never know what you might be getting. Labs have found acetone, embalming chemicals and other solvents in these products.
Some reported side effects of these synthetic compounds include psychosis, shortness of breath and in the worst cases heart attack and stroke. People’s experience with these products varies greatly because there is no consistency in how or what they are made with. Which can also mean these products could possibly interact with medications you are already taking.
Because of the way the synthetic THC chemicals bind to the brain and hold on for longer, effects can be much stronger and last a lot longer than whole plant cannabis, causing more people to suffer from anxiety issues when using.
The Research
A study from the University of Washington in Vancouver, Washington showed that calls to poison centers about synthetic cannabinoids fell by more than a third between 2016 and 2019 in states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use.
ADVERTISEMENT
During the years of the study, researchers found that there were 7,600 calls related to synthetic cannabinoid use. About 65 percent of the calls to poisoning centers were for situations that required medical attention and 61 people died. Over half of those calls (56 percent) occurred in states with restrictive cannabis policies.
In the state with legal cannabis, there are many reasons synthetic cannabis could be less of a problem, first being that there just aren't very many synthetic products around so people aren’t likely to accidentally smoke or ingest it while at a party or in a group. States with less restrictive policy are also likely not drug testing as many people for drug related crimes, which eliminates the need to use synthetic THC that is less likely to be detected on a drug test.
Currently, that state of Utah only has a medical cannabis program. And from personal experience, it’s pretty easy to find things like Spice and K2 in Utah, even if the legality is foggy. It is often easier to get for your average recreational user than whole plant cannabis.
This is one of the many positive outcomes for states with adult-use cannabis legalized which could help other states like Utah get on board with a more expansive cannabis program… we can hope.
ADVERTISMENT
