K2 or Spice is a concoction of herbs and spices that are sprayed with a synthetic compound that mimics the effects of THC. They are originally marketed as herbal incense and are sold in head shops, tobacco shops, online and offline retail outlets, and at gas stations.
The synthetic cannabinoid chemicals that are typically found in K2 or Spice include the following:
JWH-018 is one of the complex kinds of synthetic cannabis or synthetic marijuana that is known by various brand names such as K2 and Spice, and which are sold as "herbal incense" or "herbal smoking blends."
Also referred to as fake weed, JWH-018-K2 is one of the 100 indoles, pyrroles, and indoles first synthesized by Professor John W. Huffman in Clemson University and was originally developed as an analgesic.
Because JWH-018 is a full agonist of both CB1 and CB, its effects on the body and mind of the person ingesting it tends to be more intense than THC, which is just a partial agonist of cannabis.
Although synthetic cannabis has been used for therapeutic purposes, JWH-018 alters an addicted person's mindset and may cause extreme anxiety, seizures, and convulsions. This is because of GABA neurotransmissions, which are more effective than THC.
JWH-018-K2 got its name from its proponent John W. Huffman. It is usually brown color, usually lumpy, dry or sticky in nature. JWH-018-K2 has many forms that also contain analgesic properties.
The following are some examples and short descriptions of the other forms of JWH.
K2/Spice comes in a variety of street names, such as:
K2/Spice is practically easy to spot. These herbal blends come in small, silvery plastic bags of dried leaves and marketed as incense that can be smoked. It is said to resemble potpourri.
Synthetic cannabinoids are chemical compounds that mimic the effects of THC – the principal active ingredients of cannabis. In 2008, Volker Auwarter, ScD and colleagues in the forensic toxicology lab at the University Hospital Freiburg, Germany found that the Spice herbal incense products contained at least two different designer drugs known as synthetic cannabinoids.
Synthetic cannabinoids have been classified according to the chemical structures of the molecules, as suggested by Howlett et al. and Thakur et al. This classification has also been referred to in a report by the British Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) which deals with the generic definition of synthetic cannabinoids.
Synthetic cannabinoids do not have original marijuana content. However, they tend to cause more potent effects than actual marijuana when smoked. With approximately 4 times the potency of actual marijuana, JWH018-K2 has caused several addictions in the United States.
A survey conducted by the Idaho Hospital Association (IHA) showed that out of the 20 hospitals serving the state, 11 have experienced dealing with the drugs Spice and K2. In addition, more than 80 cases of Spice addiction were reported to have occurred during the months of February to August 2010.
The federal government warns that the "high" experienced from smoking JWH-018-K2 causes severe hazards to the cognitive and psychological aspects of an addicted person.
JWH-018-K2, along with JWH-073 and JWH-250 that are common in cannabis smoke, works by depressing the central nervous system through binding on CB1 receptors with 3-fold preference. Smoking at least 3 to 5 mg of the substance every day may alter human emotions, impair the ability to decide, and cause memory loss.
In addition, various medical studies have shown that further abuse of JWH-018-K2 may lead to extreme sedation, which may end up with comma, euphoria, paranoia, and anxiety.
It creates a constricting effect on the cardiovascular system, which includes faster heart rate. Because of this, it becomes life-threatening as it leads to various dangers such as heart attack and stroke. JWH-018-K2 results in scarier withdrawal symptoms than regular marijuana, which include tremors, nausea, diarrhea, and severe palpitations.
A person who smokes JWH-018-K2 may be spotted by several physical change and effects that the drug causes:
A person addicted to synthetic marijuana may experience the following symptoms:
JWH-018 cannot be detected through typical immunoassay screening methods used in screening urine samples for cannabis. However, it can be detected through two processes known as Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS or HPLC/MS).
GC/MS uses the combination of gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify specific drug metabolites in a specimen. Meanwhile, LC/MS is a prevailing technique used to identify positive drug metabolites in highly sensitive and selective applications by using a combination of liquid chromatography's physical separation capability to the mass spectrometry's analysis of the specimen's mass.
Even though it is banned in various places, JWH-018-K2 is still accessible through the internet, head shops, and gas stations.
Drug testing kits have been developed and have proven helpful for a variety of drug treatment and criminal justice situations. A urine drug test is one effective means of testing for the presence of JWH-018-K2 and JWH-073 metabolites in urine for 3 to 4 days.
Synthetic marijuana drug testing is also available in the market and can test for 10 different drugs at one time (including synthetic marijuana).
The presence of JWH-018-K2 may be detected through gas and liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry, which follows the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) cut-off level for cannabis of 50 ng/mL.
On November 24, 2010, the DEA notified the public through the Federal Register of their intent to temporarily control five synthetic cannabinoid chemicals found in so-called “fake pot” products such as K2 and Spice. At present, the control status of these compounds differs significantly from country to country.
The table below shows an overview of the legal status of synthetic cannabinoids in various countries based on the report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Country |
Enforcement Date |
Controlled substances / Remarks |
Austria |
January 2009 - October 2010 |
‘Spice’ products classified as medicinal preparationsCP‐47,497‐C6/C7/C8/C9, JWH‐018, HU‐210, JWH‐015, JWH‐019, JWH‐073, JWH‐081, JWH‐200, JWH‐250 |
Denmark |
March 2010 |
CP‐47,497‐C6/C7/C8/C9, JWH‐018, JWH‐073, HU‐210, JWH‐250, JWH‐398, JWH‐200 |
Estonia |
July 2009 |
CP‐47,497‐C6/C7/C8/C9, JWH‐018, JWH‐073, HU‐210 |
France |
February 2009 |
JWH‐018, CP‐47,497‐C6/C7/C8/C9, HU‐210 |
Germany |
January 2009 - January 2010 (Planned for 2011) |
emergency regulation, JWH‐018, CP‐47,497‐C6/C7/C8/C9permanent control and addition of JWH‐019, JWH‐073JWH‐015, JWH‐081, JWH‐200, JWH‐250, JWH‐122 |
Italy |
June 2010 |
JWH‐018, JWH‐073 |
Japan |
November 2009 - September 2010 |
controlled as “designated substances” under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law: CP‐47,497‐C7/C8, JWH‐018, HU‐210JWH‐073, JWH‐250 |
Lithuania |
May 2009 |
CP‐47,497‐C6/C7/C8/C9, JWH‐018, JWH‐073, HU‐210, JWH‐250,JWH‐398, JWH‐200 |
Russia |
December 2009 |
CP‐47,497‐C6/C7/C8/C9, HU‐210, JWH‐007, JWH‐018, JWH‐073,JWH‐081, JWH‐098, JWH‐122, JWH‐149, JWH‐166, JWH‐175, JWH‐176, JWH‐184, JWH‐185, JWH‐192, JWH‐193, JWH‐194, JWH‐195,JWH‐196, JWH‐197, JWH‐198, JWH‐199, JWH‐200 |
South Korea |
July 2009 |
JWH‐018, HU‐210, CP‐47,497 |
Sweden |
September 2009 |
CP‐47,497‐C6/ C7/C8/C9, JWH‐018, JWH‐073,HU‐210 |
Switzerland |
May 2009 - December 2010 |
control of ‘Spice herbal mixes’ under food regulation (5 grams allowed for personal use), JWH‐018, JWH‐019, JWH‐073, JWH‐250, CP‐47,497‐C6/C7/C8/C9 |
United Kingdom |
December 2009 |
generic approach |
U.S. |
Not controlled under federal law (as of November 2010) |
HU-210 is scheduled as an analog of THCDEA announcement to emergency schedule JWH‐018, JWH‐073, CP‐47,497, CP‐47,497‐C8 and JWH‐200 |