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SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA FACT SHEET

STREET NAMES
Bilss, Black Mamba, Bombay Blue, Fake Weed, Genie, Spice, Zohai, K2.
COST
It sells for approximately $30-40 per three gram bag, which is comparable in cost to marijuana.
 
METHODS OF USE
Users usually smoke the dried plant material sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids. Sometimes they mix the sprayed plant material with marijuana, or they brew it as tea. Other users buy synthetic cannabinoid products as liquids to vaporize them in e-cigarettes.
WHAT IS IT?
K2 or “Spice” is a mixture of herbs and spices that is typically sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC, the psychoactive ingredients in marijuana. The chemical compounds typically include HU-210, HU-211, JWH-018, and JWH-073. K2 is commonly purchased in head shops, tobacco shops, various retail outlets, and over the Internet. It is often marketed as incense or “fake weed.” Purchasing over the Internet can be dangerous because it is not usually known where the products come from or what amount of chemical is on the organic material.
 

Synthetic cannabinoids are included in a group of drugs called "new psychoactive substances" (NPS). NPS are unregulated psychoactive (mind-altering) substances that have become newly available on the market and are intended to copy the effects of illegal drugs. Some of these substances may have been around for years but have reentered the market in altered chemical forms or due to renewed popularity.

IS IT HARMFUL?
It is dangerous and addictive. JWH 018 and its cousins have a chemical structure shared with known cancer-causing agents. These agents bind much more tightly to the body’s cannabinoid receptors than THC does. An Indianola teenager recently committed suicide after using K2.
 
Physiological effects of K2 include increased heart rate and increase of blood pressure. It appears to be stored in the body for long periods of time, and therefore the long-term effects on humans are not fully known.
 

Synthetic cannabinoids can be addictive. Regular users trying to quit may have the following withdrawal symptoms: headaches, anxiety,

depression, irritability.

If yourself or a loved one is struggling with addiction, Submit a Treatment Request to get help today. All information is confidential.

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