New-Onset Psychosis and Synthetic Marijuana

Attached you find a link to a very interesting article http://www.familypracticenews.com/single-view/new-onset-psychosis-linked-to-use-of-fake-pot/99bbe3bc19.html reporting that synthetic marijuana may be associated with new-onset psychosis in patients with NO psychiatric histories. Synthetic marijuana is usually a mix of cannabinoid receptor agonists. They are generally full agonists, which distinguishes them from the active ingredient in actual marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is a partial cannabinoid agonist. The chemicals originally were developed to help locate cannabinoid receptors and as experimental pain relievers – uses that did not pan out, he said. Plant material is dipped into the chemicals, or sprayed with them, and sold on the Internet or in drug paraphernalia shops as K2, Blaze, RedXdawn, and other brands. Spice is usually smoked, but is beginning to be sold as a crystalline powder. Users have no way of knowing how potent a particular product is. On March 1, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency temporarily designated five synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule I substances, pending further action, "because they pose a threat to public health," according to the order.

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Bernd