News » Cat & Mouse: New Chemicals Found in Synthetic Marijuana





NMS Labs in Willow Grove, PA has been monitoring the chemicals in synthetic marijuana since earlier this spring when concerns were raised about the health effects of the active ingredients. The independent lab has been collecting information on the “incense” products to provide to law enforcement, drug rehabilitation centers, and health care providers so that the use of the products can be detected through a blood test, as well as to get more information on the possible side effects. The two most common compounds are known as JWH-018 and JWH-073, both of which are easily detectable and were recently banned in Missouri, Pennsylvania and other states after they were linked to impaired driving arrests and emergency room visits, causing the Drug Enforcement Agency to label them as a “chemical of concern.”

In response the manufacturers of products such as Spice and K2 has released new blends with a chemically different by similar compound known as JWH-250. As with JWH-018 and JWH-073 the implications of the use of JWH-250 are not know, causing concern in some professionals such as NMS Labs National Director of Forensic Services Barry Logan, Phd.

Because of the lack of regulation, “this latest finding was not unexpected, as simple modifications to the chemical structure create a demand for the latest and greatest ‘high.’ While technically not illegal, little is known about the adverse effects of these chemicals, and users are taking some risks by experimenting with them,” said Dr. Logan.

[source KansasCity.com]

Tags: JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-250, K2, K3, K4, NMS Labs, Spice, synthetic marijuana, synthetic pot