What do young people hear about it?
People using synthetic cannabinoids report some effects similar to those produced by marijuana, such as elevated mood, relaxation and altered perception. Some young people incorrectly assume that these products are “natural” and therefore harmless.
What are the risks?
Short-term effects include increased agitation, pale skin, seizures, vomiting, profuse sweating, uncontrolled/spastic body movements, elevated blood pressure, heart rate and palpitations. Synthetic cannabinoids begin having an effect within three to five minutes, and the duration of the high is one to eight hours. Synthetic cannabinoids can also cause difficulty speaking, severe paranoia, delusions and hallucinations. The long-term effects are unknown.
Congress and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have taken steps to ban many of these substances at the Federal level. Many states have also taken action to control synthetic drugs, including synthetic cannabinoids.