Synthetic Cannabinoids (Spice, K2)

Harm Reduction

It is important to be aware that many of the synthetic cannabinoids are considerably stronger than those found naturally occurring in the cannabis plant. Some sellers advertise products up to 20 times more potent than THC. It is very difficult to assess the accuracy of these claims, and this means it is hard to judge portion sizes if you’re used to traditional cannabis measures. It is important to bear in mind that your tolerance levels for cannabis will not necessarily directly translate to a synthetic product.

There appears to be some toxicity in certain synthetic cannabinoid groups, with illness and even death reported as a result of using some products; the compound JWH-122, for example, has been linked to a number of hospitalisations.

  • Try to find out as much information as you can about what’s actually in the product using drug forums websites such as Erowid or Drugs Forum
  • Dose carefully- start with small amounts until you know your limits
  • Try to use with friends or people you trust, or at the very least make sure someone knows where you are when you’re using
  • Make sure you (or someone you’re with) has access to a phone and is able to call 999 if you start experiencing difficulties