New types of Synthetic Cannabis; Report

A new type of Synthetic Cannabis called 'Venom' was seized last week in Perth by West Australian Police. Typically, Synthetic Cannabinoids (marketed as 'legal highs', 'incense' or 'herbal highs') contain one or more compounds that mimic some effects of cannabis.

This report looks at this phenomenon in Australia, and attempts to offer information to provide a deeper understanding of the issues at play, and the trends that we are seeing in the local community and internationally.

Originally developed through research and then named for its developer John W. Huffman (JWH numbered compounds), the most common of which is named JWH-018. John Huffman professor emeritus of organic chemistry at Clemson University, beginning in 1984, developed many cannabinoid compounds to aid in medical research. It was not his wish that they be used for recreational purposes. HU-210 first synthesized in at Hebrew University in 1988 is purportedly up to 800 times the strength of natural THC from cannabis, a potent analgesic, it is one of the 8 other variants developed at this time. CP 47,497 developed by Pfizer in the 1980’s is another cannabinoid compound, developed for research. North-eastern University also synthesised cannabinoid compounds, listed as AM, such as AM-2201.

In later years, starting in Germany in 2003, these compounds began to be sold as marijuana alternatives. The laws in Australia vary from state to state, with some such as WA having a harsher standpoint.

They can currently in NSW be purchased from Tobacconists, Adult Stores and Online Retailers (in small or large quantities) among others. They are sold as herbal incense, and often come with a disclaimer, Warning; Not for human consumption.

Typically the synthetic compound is sold online in powder form, it is then combined with other ingredient  including organic materials to make a 'blend' of plant material/inert herbs, that is sold retail and wholesale both legally and illegally, that can be smoked by users, much like Marijuana.

In recent years, the laws have changed state to state, and online retailers will only send certain brands contain non-listed chemicals, to certain areas. A way of circumventing this law is through changing of the active ingredients.

JWH-018 and JWH-073 are some of the more common compounds used in these products to date.

New synthesized blends of this product, including the drugs seized in Perth, contained these two compounds, AM-2201 and XLR-11. XLR-11 is now banned under New Zealand law. 

THC (Marijuana) and Synthetic cannabis compounds designed to mimic its effects

Several types of synthetic compounds available online.

These chemical compounds can be bought on the Internet from companies claiming to reside in the US and elsewhere, and are sold as 'research chemicals'. They are then combined with organic materials and distributed under different brand names, by wholesalers and retailers nationally.

The part which makes it difficult to police, legislate and difficult to screen in workplace situations, is that these companies have a vested interest in keeping their products ‘legal’ and ahead of state and federal legislation. This means none of these products are very static, having to be regularly rebranded, and the ingredients slightly changed to keep up with legislation changes.

The effect has been that some brands of synthetic marijuana are being redeveloped with synthetic compounds that are not yet classified, or have not been seen before. For example AB-001, is a designer drug, we have no information on who developed it, but that was discovered to be used in synthetic smoking blends in Europe in 2010-2011.

In truth, these types of substances are available online to anyone that wants to purchase them, and will be sent to by post to anywhere that they are willing to be sent to, including major cities, small towns and remote mining locations, anywhere. Typical THC drug tests (urine or saliva) will NOT pick up these substances, though currently urine tests (such as K2 Spice) are available in Australia that are designed to screen for a range of these compounds.

Any person involved in Drug testing or drug education should keep up with the latest developments in drugs of abuse in the community. Only through informed discussion can gain a better, unbiased view of the current situation, and put in place measures to deal with these issues.

If you would like more information on this subject, please contact us at www.drugtestaustralia.com.au or email sales@drugtestaustralia.com.au or Phone 1300 660 636