Spice ( spice , K2, translated from English. - "seasoning, spice") - one of the brands of smoking blends , put on sale in the form of herbs with a chemical applied. It has a psychoactive effect, to some extent similar to the effect of marijuana , but causing more severe psychopathological symptoms. Like marijuana, Spice acts on cannabinoid receptors . In acute intoxication with Spice, derealization and depersonalization disorders, disturbances in space perception, disturbances in body layout, synesthesia can occur, which can continue in a mild form, even a month after administration, the world is perceived as unfamiliar, alienated, “consciousness leaves the body”, sometimes psychomotor agitation with the affect of anxiety or fear . Spice mixtures have been sold in Europe since 2006 (according to some data - since 2004) under the guise of incense mainly through online stores . In 2009, it was found that the active component of the mixtures are not substances of plant origin, but synthetic analogues of tetrahydrocannabinol , the main active ingredient in marijuana, such as CP 47.497 and JWH-018 [1] [2] . Currently, synthetic cannabinoids , which are the active substances of Spice, are banned in most countries of the world, including Russia [3] , USA [4] and many countries of the European Union [5] .
Content
Composition
According to the manufacturer, Spice herbal mixtures contain components of the following plants: Canavalia rosea , Nymphaea alba and Nymphaea caerulea , Scutellaria nana , Pedicularis densiflora , Leonotis leonuru , Zornia latifolia , Nelumbo nucifera , Leonurus sibiricus , Althaea officinalis , Rosa canina . Some of these plants actually contain biologically active substances that may have a certain psychoactive effect ( glycoside aucubin in Pedicularis densiflora or alkaloid Leonurin in Leonurus sibiricus ) [1] [6] .
However, studies conducted in 2008-2009 showed that the action of Spice and similar mixtures is caused not by plant components, but by synthetic agonists of cannabinoid receptors of various chemical nature (the content in different batches varies) [7] :
- Dibenzopyranes: HU-210
- Cyclohexylphenols: CP 47.497 and its homologues
- Naphthoylindoles: JWH-018 , JWH-073 , JWH-398
- Phenylacetylindoles: JWH-250
- Oleamide
The timely detection of synthetic cannabinoids in Spice herbal mixtures was prevented by the presence of mixtures of plants with potentially psychoactive properties, the addition of a large amount of ballast compounds (such as vitamin E ) to hide the active substance, and the lack of information on the spectral properties of synthetic cannabinoids in most databases for mass spectrometric analysis [8] .
- Structural formulas of tetrahydrocannabinol and some synthetic cannabinoids
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Hu-210
CP 47,497
JWH-018
Views
Under the Spice brand, several variants of smoking blends are sold that differ in strength, for example, according to EMCDDA 2009: Spice Silver, Spice Gold, Spice Diamond and others [9] [10] .
Mixtures are packaged in packages of approximately 5 by 7.5 cm, containing 3 grams of the mixture. The retail price of one package in 2008 ranged from 15 to 30 euros. In addition, similar mixtures were found that were sold under the brands Yucatan Fire, Smoke, Skunk, Sence, Genie, and K2 [1] [11] [12] .
Combinations of active substances in different types of mixtures differ [1] :
| Mixture | CP 47,497 | Homologists CP 47.497 | JWH-018 | Oleamide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spice silver | - | + | not in all samples | - |
| Spice gold | - | ++ | not in all samples | - |
| Spice diamond | - | +++ | not in all samples | - |
| Yucatan fire | - | +++ | ++ | - |
| Smoke, Skunk | - | - | +++ | ++ |
| Sentence | + | +++ | - | - |
Effect on the human body
The effect of synthetic cannabinoids on the human body is currently not well understood. Although their effects on the psyche are similar to those of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), there is no reason to be sure that the risks associated with their use are comparable to those associated with the use of THC. So, an overdose of a full cannabinoid receptor agonist can be more dangerous than an overdose of a partial agonist (which is THC) [13] .
A case of physical dependence with prolonged use of Spice Gold is described [14] .
An overdose of synthetic cannabinomimetics can cause tachycardia and anxiety conditions typical of cannabinoids. In addition, cases of paranoia , hallucinations and psychotomimetic effects have been reported [12] . Studies conducted by New Zealand scientists suggest that the use of smoking mixtures containing JWH-018, which is a dissociative , can cause psychosis in susceptible individuals [15] .
Legal Status
The synthetic cannabinoids that make up Spice smoking blends are not on the international lists of controlled substances under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. In 2009, after the discovery of synthetic cannabinoids in Spice smoking blends, authorities began to take measures to ban these compounds [5] .
European Union
| A country | Prohibited Synthetic Cannabinoids | Ban date |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | JWH-018, CP 47,497 and its homologues, HU-29 | March 3, 2009 |
| Germany | JWH-018, CP 47,497 and its homologues | January 22, 2009 |
| Lithuania | JWH-018, JWH-073, CP 47.497 and its homologues, HU-210 | May 27, 2009 |
| Luxembourg | JWH-018, CP 47.497, HU-210 and other synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists | April 20, 2009 |
| Poland | JWH-018 | May 8, 2009 |
| United Kingdom | a wide range of synthetic cannabinoids | August 12, 2009 |
| France | JWH-018, CP 47,497 and its homologues, HU-210 | February 24, 2009 |
| Sweden | JWH-018, JWH-073, CP 47.497 and its homologues, HU-210 | September 15, 2009 |
| Estonia | JWH-018, JWH-073, CP 47.497 and its homologues, HU-210 | July 24, 2009 |
Russia
On behalf of Rospotrebnadzor, the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences conducted an examination of Spice and similar smoking mixtures, finding psychoactive substances in their composition [16] . Based on this conclusion, on April 9, 2009 Rospotrebnadzor banned the circulation of smoking mixtures containing predictor sage ( Salvia divinorum ), Hawaiian rose ( Argyreia nervosa ) or blue lotus ( Nymphea caerulea ) [17] .
On December 31, 2009, the blue lotus, the sage of the foretellers, the Hawaiian rose, as well as JWH-018 and a number of other synthetic cannabinoids were included in the list of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances , the circulation of which is prohibited in the Russian Federation [3] .
In November 2010, the ban was moved from Schedule I to a separate list, “List of plants containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances or their precursors and subject to control in the Russian Federation” [18] .
In December 2014, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a bill banning smoking mixtures based on spice, as well as the components that make up them [19] . A little later, this bill was approved by the government [20]
On February 4, 2015, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin approved amendments to a number of laws that prohibit the use and promotion of spice [21] .
USA
In the United States, CP 47.497, JWH-018, and several other synthetic cannabinomimetics are included in Schedule I of controlled substances in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act [4] .
Belarus
Since April 7, 2010, the Decree “On Amendments and Additions to the Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus dated May 28, 2003 No. 26 Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus dated 10.03.2010 No. 25”, SR-47, 497, (SR 47, 497) -С6, (СР-47, 497) -С9, (СР-47, 497) -С8, HU-210, JWH-073, JWH-196, JWH-194, JWH-197, JWH-007 , JWH-149, JWH-098, JWH-195, JWH-192, JWH-199, JWH-200, JWH-193, JWH-198, JWH-176, JWH-122, JWH-081, JWH-175, JWH -184, JWH-185, JWH-250, JWH-018, JWH-116 are included in “List 1 of especially dangerous narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances not used for medical purposes” [22] .
On January 1, 2015, Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 6 dated December 28, 2014 “On urgent measures to counteract drug trafficking” [23] entered into force .
Ukraine
By the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 373 dated 05/31/2010, JWH-018, CP 47.497 and its homologs, as well as some other synthetic cannabinoids, were included in the list of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors [24] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 Auwärter V et al. 'Spice' and other herbal blends: harmless incense or cannabinoid designer drugs? // J Mass Spectrom. - 2009. - T. 44 , No. 5 . - S. 832-837 .
- ↑ EMCDDA. Understanding the 'Spice' phenomenon . - Lisbon: EMCDDA, 2009 .-- S. 3 .-- 37 p. - ISBN 9789291684113 . Archived on May 29, 2010. Archived March 26, 2010 on Wayback Machine
- ↑ 1 2 Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated December 31, 2009 No. 1186 (2009). Archived March 25, 2012.
- ↑ 1 2 DEA. Controlled Substances - Alphabetical Order - September 2012 (English) (2012).
- ↑ 1 2 EMCDDA. Understanding the 'Spice' phenomenon . - Lisbon: EMCDDA, 2009. - S. 19-20. - 37 p. - ISBN 9789291684113 . Archived on May 29, 2010. Archived March 26, 2010 on Wayback Machine
- ↑ EMCDDA. Understanding the 'Spice' phenomenon . - Lisbon: EMCDDA, 2009 .-- S. 8 .-- 37 p. - ISBN 9789291684113 . Archived on May 29, 2010. Archived March 26, 2010 on Wayback Machine
- ↑ EMCDDA. Understanding the 'Spice' phenomenon . - Lisbon: EMCDDA, 2009. - S. 9-10, 28. - 37 p. - ISBN 9789291684113 . Archived on May 29, 2010. Archived March 26, 2010 on Wayback Machine
- ↑ EMCDDA. Understanding the 'Spice' phenomenon . - Lisbon: EMCDDA, 2009. - S. 11-12. - 37 p. - ISBN 9789291684113 . Archived on May 29, 2010. Archived March 26, 2010 on Wayback Machine
- ↑ Factsheet 22: spice . National cannabis prevention and information center (October 2011). Released May 17, 2015. “According to the EMCDDA 2009 publication - Understanding the 'Spice' phenomenon ...”
- ↑ Spice (synthetic cannabinoids ) . DrugScope. Date of treatment May 17, 2015.
- ↑ DEA. DEA Resources, Microgram, March 2009 (English) (2009). Archived March 25, 2012.
- ↑ 1 2 Brett C. Ginsburg et al. Purity of Synthetic Cannabinoids Sold Online for Recreational Use // J Anal Toxicol .. - 2012.- T. 1 , No. 36 . - S. 66–68 .
- ↑ EMCDDA. Understanding the 'Spice' phenomenon . - Lisbon: EMCDDA, 2009 .-- S. 12 .-- 37 p. - ISBN 9789291684113 . Archived on May 29, 2010. Archived March 26, 2010 on Wayback Machine
- ↑ Ulrich S. Zimmermann et al. Withdrawal Phenomena and Dependence Syndrome After the Consumption of "Spice Gold" // Dtsch Arztebl Int. - 2009. - T. 106 , No. 27 . - S. 464-467 .
- ↑ Susanna Every-Palmer. Synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 and psychosis: an explorative study. // Drug and Alcohol Dependence. - 2011. - No. 117 . - S. 152-157 .
- ↑ Copper news. Onishchenko banned the circulation of psychoactive smoking mixtures (2009). Archived March 25, 2012.
- ↑ Rospotrebnadzor. On strengthening supervision of the implementation of smoking mixtures (Unavailable link) (2009). Archived on October 25, 2012.
- ↑ Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 27, 2010 N 934 “On approval of the list of plants containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances or their precursors and subject to control in the Russian Federation, large and especially large-scale cultivation of plants containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances or their precursors, for the purposes of Article 231 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, as well as on amending and invalidating certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation on the issue of turnover knowledge containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances or their precursors ”
- ↑ State Duma banned spice in first reading
- ↑ Spice components are banned
- ↑ Putin signed a law banning the use and promotion of spice . The administrative responsibility for the use of potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and the involvement of minors in it is established . TASS (February 4, 2015) .
- ↑ On amendments and additions to the resolution of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus of May 28, 2003 No. 26 (2010). Archived March 25, 2012.
- ↑ Decree No. 6 of December 28, 2014 . The official website of the President of the Republic of Belarus.
- ↑ Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 373 dated May 31, 2010 (Ukrainian) (2010).
Literature
- EMCDDA. Understanding the 'Spice' phenomenon . - Lisbon: EMCDDA, 2009 .-- 37 p. - ISBN 9789291684113 . Archived on May 29, 2010. Archived March 26, 2010 on Wayback Machine
- Auwärter V et al. 'Spice' and other herbal blends: harmless incense or cannabinoid designer drugs? // J Mass Spectrom. - 2009. - T. 44 , No. 5 . - S. 832-837 .
- Synthetic cannabinoids in herbal products // UNODC , 2010