What is K2/Spice?

K2, and/or Spice, are the two most commonly given names used for synthetic cannabis. Synthetic cannabinoids are manufactured in Asia and sold in the United States under many different names including: K2, Spice, Kronic, Chronic Spice, Earthquake, Zohai, Mr. Nice Guy, Genie, K3, Pulse, Stinger, Spice Gold, Mystery, Red X dawn, Skunk and a host of others. Newer names are: K2 Thai Dream, K2 Amazonian Shelter, K2 Sky, K2 Solid Sex and K2 Orisha.

What is a Synthetic Cannabinoid?
These substances are generally synthetic and bind to the cannabinoid receptors in our brain and thus create a similar high to marijuana. There are over 100 synthetic cannabinoids, but the most commonly used in K2/Spice products are JWH-018 and JWC-073.

History
Synthetic cannabinoids were first sold in Europe in 2004 under the brand name Spice. Their popularity has grown since then. There has been limited research on the safety of these substances, but most point to their role in the onset of psychosis. It appears that it can cause acute psychosis and even bring on dormant psychosis or worsen pre-existing conditions.

Legality
All of these products are labeled, “Not for Human Consumption”. This is the main reason why they are able to skirt FDA regulation. The issue with these designer drugs is that when a certain chemical gets banned, the manufacturers come up with a new molecule and brand name thus eluding the bans.

As of March 1, 2011, the five major cannabinoids found in Spice (CP-47,497, JWH-200, JWH-018, JWH-073, and cannabicyclohexanol) are now illegal via an emergency federal ban. Several states have also scheduled some of these substances illegal. These state are: Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Arkansas and Oregon. Several states considering a similar ban are Michigan, New Jersey, Indiana and Ohio.

Several armed forces agencies have also banned these substances.

Detection
Even though several states have banned K2/Spice, as well as a Federal ban, detecting these substances is a big challenge. Many users and addicts have boasted that they can get high (or even be high during a drug test) and go undetected. This has been for 2 major reasons; 1. The lack of knowledge of the widespread use of these subtances, and 2. The difficulty and price of detecting these substances. Up until now, urine samples had to be sent to a laboratory to detect K2/Spice with the cost in the $40 range.

Now, with the introduction of lower cost onsite tests, the increase in testing for this substance in inevitable. We have seen a huge number of positive tests, especially in the treatment arena. Until now, marijuana addicts were easily able to obtain a marijuana-type high and not be tested for K2/Spice.

The two most common K2/Spice main ingredients are chemicals names JWH-018 and JWH-073 (over 90%). Biotech Screening’s K2/Spice test will detect either of these chemicals. This insures accurate detection K2/Spice users.

Biotech screening offers drug testing for this and a myriad of other illicit and prescription drugs.

Labels: k2, marijuana, synthetic

1 Comments:

 Unknown said...

any incenses, K2 or spice incense for my own opinion was useful in any other sides such as a substitute on illegal drugs and keep free on any drug tests buy I would say that do not misused any spice incenses and keep safe from any unexpected effects.

December 26, 2012 at 6:53 PM  

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