Subscriptions - Maximum Yield Cannabis USA November/December 2020 | Page 90
Even though synthetic
cannabinoids may be
easier and cheaper to
obtain, the health risks
associated with them can
be costly and even deadly.”
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR A NURSE?
Email [email protected] to get an answer.
ask a
NURSE
by Eloise Theisen, AGPCNP-BC
Q
a
I am wondering if using synthetic cannabinoids is a safe alternative to natural weed. Does fake
weed affect the body the same? I’m wondering because it seems to be less expensive.
— Shawn K.
Thank you for your question Shawn. It is an important
one as most people do not know the difference
between synthetic cannabinoids and plant-based
cannabinoids. The quick answer is no, synthetic
cannabinoids are not a safer alternative to the plant.
While it may be cheaper, there are serious side effects
that could be detrimental to your health.
Cannabinoid chemistry goes back to the late 1800s.
As chemists started to identify cannabinoids, they also
began synthesizing them. Roger Adams, a chemist, was
the first to isolate and synthesize a cannabinoid. By 1940,
he had published a method for converting CBD to THC
and in 1949, he had a catalog of THC analogs which were
the first artificial cannabinoids. Synthesis of cannabinoids
continued and in the mid-1970s, Eli Lilly and Co.
developed nabilone, a synthetic 1 mg THC capsule. By
1985, the FDA approved dronabinol, another synthetic
THC capsule, for the use of HIV/AIDS related nausea and
vomiting and severe weight loss.
Synthetic cannabinoids continue to be produced, mostly
for research purposes. However, you can find products
like K2, Scooby Doo, and Spice through the illicit market.
These products have been referred to as synthetic marijuana
which is not true. They are synthetic THC and they
have allowed users to avoid legal consequences associated
with cannabis use and to pass a drug test.
Plant-based THC is a partial agonist at the CB1 and CB2
receptors, which means it does not activate the receptors
to the fullest extent. Synthetic THC is a full agonist
at CB1 and CB2. When the receptors are fully activated,
it can cause serious side effects such as agitation, coma,
toxic psychosis, cardiovascular problems, respiratory
depression, acute kidney injury, addiction, and even
death. Phytocannabinoids have not been shown to have
the same serious side effects as synthetic cannabinoids
and are much safer.
The risk of using synthetic cannabinoids far outweighs
any benefit. Even though synthetic cannabinoids
may be easier and cheaper to obtain, the health risks
associated with them can be costly and even deadly. It
is always best to obtain your cannabis from a regulated
supplier that is required to test for potency, mycotoxins,
pesticides, bacteria, and heavy metals to ensure its
purity and safety.
ET
Eloise Theisen, AGPCNP-BC, is a dedicated and patient-focused nurse. For more than 17 years, she has specialized
in aging, cancer, chronic pain, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, and various
autoimmune and neurological diseases.
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