Synthetic cannabinoids

If you've read about CBD, you've probably heard of synthetic cannabinoids. But what does this name really mean? And is it suitable for safe consumption?

In order to answer all your questions, we have prepared this entry. After all, we care about your safety and well-being.

Before we get into the meaning of the term 'synthetic cannabinoids', let's talk a little bit about cannabinoids.

WHAT ARE CANNABINOIDS?

The action of cannabinoids is to imitate the chemical compounds that our bodies produce naturally. They are often called 'endocannabimoids' - the term 'endo' means that they are produced 'inside the body', i.e. in our bodies and by themselves. Thanks to this, and in their essence, cannabinoids help to activate and maintain in balance internal health and balance.

The cannabinoids that we find in 'cannabis sativa' plants are called 'phytocannabinoids'. CBD and THC are the two most well-known of them.

What more should you know about CBD and its benefits?

When cannabinoids enter the body, they connect to receptors distributed throughout our body. Simply put, we distinguish several different types of receptors. CB1 receptors are most abundant in your central nervous system (CNS), while CB2 receptors are found outside the CNS, including your white blood cells and cells in your immune system.

Want to know more about cannabinoid receptors and the functions they perform?

Depending on which receptors the cannabinoids bind to, we observe different effects of these associations. This is because each of the cannabinoids has a different effect. THC, for example, binds to receptors in the brain, while CBD and CBN (cannabinol) have a strong relationship to CB2 receptors and these are distributed throughout your body. By binding to receptors, cannabinoids are able to start working with your body and stimulate it to a specific reaction. To be more precise, they work with the endocannabinoid system. It is a complex system that, if maintained in balance, helps maintain biological balance in the body (homeostasis).

SO WHAT ARE SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS?

Synthetic cannabinoids form a huge family of chemically unrelated chemical compounds. They are often listed as 'spice', 'herbal incense', K2 or 'synthetic cannabis'.

They are produced to look like naturally grown hemp, but their content is by no means identical and therefore it is important to look at them. It is very important to note that synthetic cannabinoids are not a product derived from hemp. They are a chemical analogy and bind to the same receptors that were mentioned earlier. In this context, we can call it a designer drug' (literally 'designed drug'). Using numbers, studies show that synthetic cannabinoids can be 2 to 100 times more potent than THC and have severe side effects, such as:

- nausea

- chest pain

- accelerated heart rate

- vision problems

- headaches

- liver damage

- nervousness

- high blood pressure

- psychosis

HOW DO THEY WORK?

In the case of synthetic cannabinoids, this part of the action is identical, as 'fake cannabinoids' also bind to CB1 receptors. The difference, however, is that they combine with them with a much greater kinship, because they are 'false' and thus capable of overstimulating receptors. The fact is that many synthetic cannabinoids are much stronger and more powerful compounds than the active compound that we find in cannabis. For this reason, consuming them is much more dangerous. The thing is, you're never really sure what you're getting.

HOW ARE THEY MADE?

Synthetic cannabinoids are most often supplied from China to various manufacturers. Their work then consists in the production of mixtures using high-percentage alcohol or acetone solvent. This is called secondary extraction: synthetic molecules (molecules) are dissolved (uncoupled) in a solvent and applied to a plant-like host by a soaking or spraying process. As you can imagine, many things can go 'wrong' in such a production process. An inaccurately mixed mixture or unscrupulous spraying can easily lead to the formation of so-called 'hot spots', i.e. places on the surface of a pseudo-plant-host with an unevenly larger and dangerously strong intensity of synthetic cannabinoids.

As buyers of such products, you are therefore exposed to the risk of receiving a product that is not only not helpful for your health and well-being, but is potentially very dangerous.

SO WHY IS IT ON THE MARKET?

That's a very good question! Rumor has it that synthetic cannabinoids were intended to be legal and promised to be able to mimic the effects of real cannabis.

However, we know today that this is not true. In fact, it had more to do with quick and easy distribution and huge profits.

If we go back in time a bit, we will notice how synthetic cannabinoids hit the market by pure chance. John William Huffman was a Harvard graduate and professor of Organic Chemistry at Clemson University. In the mid-80s, he began to synthesize hundreds of peculiar cannabinoids for scientific research. He did this to better understand the mechanisms of action of cannabinoids. As a result of his research, which resulted in the publication of a scientific paper, a cannabinoid called JWH018 appeared thousands of miles away in a German laboratory.

Scientists gave it the name "spice" and began to spread it among interesting and likeable to experiment customers. And as with other 'designer drugs', that's where everything went 'wrong'. Recognizing that their product was very easy to manufacture and quick to trade, these clandestine drug manufacturers quickly seized the opportunity and opened the flood gates of the market. When Huffman realized what had happened, he said, "Someone just opened Pandora's box."

We say "NO!" SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS

You can never be sure what product you are getting by buying it from an uncertain source and unknown origin.

Nature has so much to offer that there is no need to artificially imitate it.

We offer only legal and 100% natural products.

As always, we're happy to help you educate you about CBD and the purchases you make. Email us or contact us via chat at the bottom right if you have any questions – and in between check out our cannabis products.