This Week’s Focus: Synthetic Cannabinoids

This issue of the NDEWS Weekly Briefing focuses on synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), a diverse group of lab synthesized chemicals applied to dried plant material or sold as concentrated liquids for use in vaporizers. These substances have repeatedly appeared in discussions within our NDEWS network.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration first detected synthetic cannabinoids inside the US in products like “Spice” and "K2" in 2008, and since then their chemical diversity has expanded rapidly. Despite federal and state scheduling efforts, new variants continue to emerge and make their way to gas stations, smoke shops, and online retailers with labeling claiming the products are "not for human consumption."

Only three synthetic cannabis-related drug products are currently approved by the US Food & Drug Administration and each of the three (Marinol, Syndros, Cesamet) requires a prescription for use.

Up‑to‑date insights from the NDEWS network come together here in the form of our latest NDEWS Special Report and Web Monitoring Report to outline synthetic cannabinoid activity observed during the reporting window.

As always, we welcome your input.

Nationally, 19,688 nonfatal EMS encounters involving synthetic cannabinoid overdoses were reported from January 1, 2023 to February 28, 2026. Of these, 2,280 (11.6%) occurred in Western states, 1,380 (7.0%) in Midwestern states, 8,890 (45.2%) in Southern states, and 7,138 (36.3%) in Northeastern states. Counties with ≥ 10 encounters are presented above as encounters per 10,000 population; counties with fewer than 10 encounters have been suppressed. To view the entire Special Report from the weekly briefing, click here.

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Why are we reporting on this? Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), frequently referred to by names such as "K2", "Spice", or "Mojo", are a recurring topic of concern on Reddit due to significant health risks and addictive potential. Reddit discussions reveal emerging patterns including reports of sudden seizures, severe cardiovascular distress, and acute psychosis triggered by products often marketed as legal alternatives to cannabis. Reports from family members describe significant behavioral shifts and interpersonal challenges occurring during periods of dependency or withdrawal. Additionally, there is an ongoing community discussion regarding the term “marijuana,” with many discussants suggesting that this terminology may inaccurately characterize the distinct toxicology and risk profile associated with synthetic cannabinoid compounds.

What are Synthetic Cannabinoids? SCs are a diverse group of lab synthesized chemicals applied to dried plant material or sold as concentrated liquids for use in vaporizers. Commercial products containing these substances are commonly found at gas stations, smoke shops, and online retailers, often bearing labels claiming they are not intended for human consumption to bypass legal regulations.

Public Health Impacts: Reddit discussants report significant and life-threatening adverse effects from SC consumption, including grand mal seizures, tachycardia, and acute psychosis. Multiple commenters describe experiencing severe physical reactions such as high fevers and intense nausea, while also noting a dangerous nodding cycle where individuals lose consciousness and immediately resume administration upon waking. Discussants mention long-term cognitive challenges, such as "memory holes" and decreased verbal fluency, that persist for months or years after cessation. Reports also describe a specific looping phenomenon where individuals feel trapped in brief time loops and a state of agitated delirium that has been linked to acts of severe self-harm or violence.

How is it Being Discussed? Reddit commenters discuss SCs across several distinct themes, frequently noting that modern formulas are significantly more toxic than 2010 era versions. Conversations regarding "Spice" often focus on the discovery of these chemicals in unregulated vapes, while "K2" is associated with accidental consumption through laced products and prison culture. When using the term synthetic marijuana, discussants often debate whether the name itself is a misleading "dangerous false sense of safety," while SCs appear in technical trip reports describing a "Groundhog Day" looping phenomenon and the loss of full body control from sophisticated "c-liquids." Discussions of herbal incense frequently reference specific branding and chemical odors reminiscent of bug spray, and herbal smoking blends are discussed as stealth headshop products used to produce a dissociative high. "Mojo" is defined by discussants as a poison or dangerous chemical cocktail linked to grand mal seizures and agitated delirium, with emerging concerns regarding its use as an adulterant in low-quality natural cannabis flower. Individuals across all terms share strategies for drug test evasion in high stakes employment and seek advice on using complex supplement stacks to recover from perceived neurological damage. These substances are frequently mentioned alongside the co-use of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other research chemicals.

Because of the number of terms searched and used to generate this report, our team thought it necessary to include a methodological note to ensure clarity and transparency:

Methodological Note: Data for this analysis were collected using the Reddit API from a curated set of more than 100 subreddits associated with substance use, pharmacology, and harm reduction. To capture discussion related to SCs, the query incorporated multiple terms including the clinical designation “synthetic cannabinoids,” widely used street names such as “K2,” “Spice,” and “Mojo,” and common descriptors including “herbal incense” and “synthetic marijuana.” The metric Total Posts reflects the number of submissions containing at least one of the target keywords and serves as a proxy for overall discussion volume surrounding these substances. Unique Visitors represents the number of distinct accounts contributing to these posts, allowing differentiation between spikes driven by broad community participation versus activity concentrated among a smaller group of highly active visitors. To reduce the influence of short-term fluctuations in social media activity, a 30-day rolling sum was applied, smoothing daily volatility and highlighting more sustained trends in discussion. Because posts may contain multiple keywords (e.g., both “K2” and “Spice”), all results were deduplicated by unique Reddit post ID to ensure that individual discussion threads were counted only once.

A recently published study in Drug Testing and Analysis by Barcia de Godoi et al. reported on the discovery and structural elucidation of MDMB-5′Br-PINACA. This previously unreported synthetic cannabinoid (SC) was identified in three seized herbal materials obtained between May 2024 and July 2024 in the city of Jundiaí, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Additionally, other SCs were detected in the analyzed materials, such as 5F-ADB and MDMB-4en-PINACA, and it also included the synthetic precursor MDMB-INACA. The authors emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring and early detection of emerging substances. Read the full study here.

A recently published study in Molecules by Kurzeja et al. summarized the available literature published between 2013 and 2025 on the detection and quantification of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) in raw wastewater samples. The authors determined that the reviewed studies show that wastewater analysis reflected the dynamic evolution of the SCs market. The authors concluded that future studies should address further stability tests, investigation of the metabolism of SCs, and careful selection of the effective SCs extraction method from the complex environmental matrix. Read the full study here.

A recently published study in Toxicology by Pita et al. addressed the neurotoxicity associated with parent synthetic cannabinoid (SC) compounds and their pyrolysis products. A PRISMA-guided systematic review identified only nine studies specifically investigating the neurotoxic effects of SC pyrolysis products, revealing a significant gap in the literature and underscoring the urgent need for research. The authors noted that future research should prioritize the identification and characterization of pyrolysis-derived toxicants, the advancement of analytical methodologies for their detection and the implementation of evidence-based public health strategies. Read the full study here.

The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education recently published the latest trend report regarding the status of synthetic cannabinoids in the US. Read the full trend report here.

The New Your City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene published a report on October 6, 2025, concerning the increase of synthetic cannabinoid-related emergency department visits. The advisory noted that there were at lease nine unintentional drug overdose deaths that involved synthetic cannabinoids and no other substances, which was an increase from at least two deaths during the entirety of 2024.  Read the full advisory here.