What Are the Dangers of Synthetic Cannabinoids 

Even though cannabis is more accessible than ever, there are still many places where it’s difficult or impossible to access. Artificial, semi- or fully synthetic cannabinoid products meant to mimic the effects of cannabis tend to proliferate in these areas. 

Unfortunately, most of these fake chemical products are unregulated and unsafe, with side effects that are far more dangerous than those of the plant itself. The dangers of synthetic cannabinoids are vast, and we’ll explore them here. 

What Are Synthetic Cannabinoids?

Synthetic cannabinoids broadly refer to lab-made compounds that are chemically similar to cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. The term doesn’t refer to one drug–instead, it covers a class of hundreds of different drugs manufactured and sold in places where cannabis is difficult to access. 

Breaking this down even further, semisynthetic cannabinoids start with natural ingredients like CBD. Meanwhile, fully synthetic cannabinoids are made using chemicals from the ground-up, and are considered greatly more dangerous by comparison.

Hemp-derived synthetic cannabinoid products are different from popular fake marijuana products (think Spice, K2, etc.). In many places where cannabis is inaccessible, “fake weed” products are abundant. Manufacturers either adulterate CBD in a lab with harsh chemicals (semisynthetic conversion), or spray ‘herbal blends’ with fully synthetic chemicals that mimic the effects of cannabis, designer drugs, and hallucinogens. Both options are unregulated and pose health risks, but in this article, we’re focusing on hemp-derived synthetic cannabinoids. 

The 2018 Farm Bill provides a legal loophole for companies to sell hemp products with non-intoxicating amounts of THC. Manufacturers commonly sell delta-8 THC, the most widespread hemp-derived synthetic, which gets users high even though it’s synthesized from a non-intoxicating plant. Sometimes, they spray these products with synthetic cannabinoids and concentrated, fake terpenes, altering their appearance and increasing their intoxicating effects. The end goal is to sell more products, not provide a safe option for consumers.

We reference delta-8 throughout this piece because it is the most abundant hemp-derived, synthetic cannabinoid. But as time goes on, more variations pop up, including delta-10 tetrahydrocannabinol, hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), tetrahydrocannabinol-O acetate (THCO), tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCP), and others. All of these synthetics have similar risks, so we will stick to referencing delta-8 as it is the most well-known of the bunch. 

The Dangers of Synthetic Cannabinoids

Hemp-derived synthetic cannabinoid products have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. Most healthy adults won’t have any negative side effects from hemp-derived cannabinoids in general, because they are very similar to the naturally occurring cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. That doesn’t necessarily make every product totally safe. 

The biggest danger of these synthetic cannabinoids is their unregulated status. These products are popular in places where cannabis is not legal, so there is no standard process to ensure purity, potency, and general safety. Hemp-derived products are not legally required to have a certificate of analysis promising that the final product was tested for impurities or toxins. As a result, products may have harmful chemicals left behind with no way for consumers to tell. 

GP and Addiction Specialist Physician Dr. Olaken Otulana explains that people often mistake synthetic cannabinoids for a safer, legal alternative to cannabis, but these substances are far from safe. “These lab-made substances can be incredibly unpredictable as the chemical makeup varies from batch to batch.”

Dr. Otulana says that this unpredictability can range from severe anxiety and psychosis to heart problems or even death. We don’t have a lot of evidence for deaths related to synthetic hemp-derived cannabinoids, but we do know that the FDA reported 22 cases of deaths between 2018 and 2021 where delta-8 was present. Authorities found delta-8 as the only substance present in four of the individuals.

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A recent study supports Dr. Otulana’s concerns, reporting an increase in poison control calls involving delta-8 THC exposures in children, teens, and adults.

Researchers found that the rate of delta-8 THC exposure increased by nearly 80% from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. More than two-thirds of reported exposures came from the U.S. South. 

While we don’t have a lot of research on delta-8 THC and similar hemp-derived, synthetic compounds, we do know that some lab reports have shown it has similar effects to delta-9 THC (the kind you see at a legal dispensary). After all, the two compounds are very structurally similar. While intoxicating cannabinoids synthesized from hemp do not pose serious health risks, again, their unregulated status can be taken advantage of by bad industry actors. 

Beyond the risk of chemical residues in synthetic products, consumers are also at risk of ingesting heavy metals, pesticides, and all the other toxins tested for in legal cannabis products. 

Some states regulate and allow dispensaries to sell delta-8 THC products. These products undergo thorough testing under state cannabis laws and should include a certificate of analysis. Although researchers have studied delta-9 THC more extensively, regulated delta-8 THC is generally safer than synthetic alternatives sold at unlicensed shops due to legal dispensaries’ more rigorous production and testing standards imposed by the state.

READ: How Veriheal Is (Still) Setting The Standard For Cannabis Care

Medical Uses for Synthetic Cannabinoids

Although most synthetic cannabinoids are unsafe due to a lack of regulation, some exceptions exist. Pharmaceutical companies create certain synthetic cannabinoids strictly for medical use. Unlike the unregulated versions sold in gas stations and unlicensed shops, these medically approved products undergo strict regulation and are considered safe when prescribed by a doctor. However, they are not available to the public outside specific indications. 

“Doctors sometimes prescribe synthetic cannabinoids like dronabinol and nabilone—both FDA-approved—for specific conditions such as chemotherapy-related nausea or appetite loss in HIV/AIDS patients,” says Dr. James Lyons, M.D., medical consultant for the sober living program Synergy Houses. 

“But unregulated synthetic products sold online or in gas stations are a different matter entirely.”

The drugs Dr. Lyons refers to are available only by prescription and for very specific medical conditions like cancer and advanced AIDS. Because the FDA approves these drugs, they undergo rigorous regulation and testing for safety, unlike the unregulated synthetics found on the streets.

The Bottom Line 

While delta-8 and related products may be abundant in places with limited access to legal cannabis, these products cannot be guaranteed safe while they remain unregulated. Just because they are widely available does not mean they are safe or effective. 

If you want to consume a guaranteed safe, non-contaminated product, you’ll need to stick to licensed dispensaries where products are required to be tested before hitting the shelves.