Spicing Up Pharmacology: A Review of Synthetic Cannabinoids From Structure to Adverse Events

Colin Davidson; Jolanta Opacka-Juffry; Angel Arevalo-Martin; Daniel Garcia-Ovejero; Eduardo Molina-Holgado; Francisco Molina-Holgado

doi:10.1016/bs.apha.2017.05.001

Spicing Up Pharmacology: A Review of Synthetic Cannabinoids From Structure to Adverse Events

Colin Davidson, Jolanta Opacka-Juffry, Angel Arevalo-Martin, Daniel Garcia-Ovejero, Eduardo Molina-Holgado, Francisco Molina-Holgado

School of Life and Health Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

Recreational use of synthetic cannabinoids (SCB), a class of novel psychoactive substances is an increasing public health problem specifically in Western societies, with teenagers, young adults, and the prison population being the most affected. Some of these SCB are analogs of tetrahydrocannabinol, aminoalkylindoles, and other phytocannabinoid analogs have been detected in herbal preparations generically called "Spice." Spice, "K2" or "fake cannabis" is a general term used for variable herbal mixtures of unknown ingredients or chemical composition. SCB are highly potent CB1 cannabinoid receptor agonists falsely marketed and sold as safe and legal drugs. Here, we present an overview of the endocannabinoid system, CB, and SCB chemical structures and activity at CB receptors. Finally, we highlight the psychological effects of SCB, particularly on learning and memory, and adverse clinical effects including on the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and CNS, including psychosis. Taken together, it is clear that many SCB are extremely dangerous and a major public health problem.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Cannabinoid Pharmacology
Editors	David Kendall, Stephen Alexander
Pages	135-168
Number of pages	34
Volume	80
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apha.2017.05.001
Publication status	Published - 20 Jun 2017

Publication series

Name	Advances in Pharmacology
Publisher	Elsevier
ISSN (Print)	1054-3589

Keywords

Journal Article

Access to Document

10.1016/bs.apha.2017.05.001

Cite this

Davidson, C., Opacka-Juffry, J., Arevalo-Martin, A., Garcia-Ovejero, D., Molina-Holgado, E., & Molina-Holgado, F. (2017). Spicing Up Pharmacology: A Review of Synthetic Cannabinoids From Structure to Adverse Events. In D. Kendall, & S. Alexander (Eds.), Cannabinoid Pharmacology (Vol. 80, pp. 135-168). (Advances in Pharmacology). https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apha.2017.05.001

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Spicing Up Pharmacology: A Review of Synthetic Cannabinoids From Structure to Adverse Events. / Davidson, Colin; Opacka-Juffry, Jolanta; Arevalo-Martin, Angel et al.
Cannabinoid Pharmacology. ed. / David Kendall; Stephen Alexander. Vol. 80 2017. p. 135-168 (Advances in Pharmacology).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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