Reviewing Stories of Drug Use and Abuse So Far in 2017: SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS

We have been following several important topics from both a scientific and societal angle throughout the year.  The next series of posts will highlight the information and articles we found one category at a time.  We’ll continue with a series of stories about synthetic cannabinoids.

SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS

In February, we posted this technical but interesting article about the chemistry behind UR-144:

http://www.chromatographyonline.com/synthetic-cannabinoid-chemical-arms-race-and-its-effect-pain-medication-monitoring

In March we highlighted two articles.  The first is about DEA’s attempt to classify synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule I:

http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/01/27/synthetic-cannabinoids-dea-schedule-i/72386/

The second focuses on risks of synthetic cannabinoids:

http://ow.ly/88Vg309RUSJ

April brought an update about DEA’s scheduling of synthetic cannabinoids:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/04/10/2017-07118/schedules-of-controlled-substances-temporary-placement-of-six-synthetic-cannabinoids-5f-adb-5f-amb

In May, we focused on the biology of these substances.  This article explains the genetic factors and how the body processes synthetic cannabinoids:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/

Finally in June, we posted this fascinating article about the history of synthetic cannabinoids:

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/how-spice-invented-black-mamba-12771284?service=responsive