Synthetic cannabinoids
A.K.A: Spice, K2, Synnies, Kush, Kronic
Synthetic cannabinoids are a group of chemical drugs that are sprayed onto plant material and then smoked. Though these drugs work on cannabinoid receptors in the brain but they are much stronger than THC and have far more unpredictable and dangerous effects.
Synthetic Cannabinoids can make you feel very ‘out of it’ and pleasantly sleepy. They can also make you feel dizzy, nauseous, paranoid and cause you to loose consciousness. How potent the effects are can depend on which synthetic cannabinoid you have, and how it has been sprayed on the plant material.
Due to how unpredictable they are, synthetic cannabinoids are very difficult to dose, which increases the risk of overdose.
Caution
In New Zealand there are many synthetic cannabinoids being sold that have dangerous chemicals in them. These can lead to hospitalisation or death. Find out more about recent incidents here.
How to be safer when using
- Different parts of the same bag could have different strengths, putting you at risk of an overdose.
- Use a smaller amount and wait to see the effects, this can reduce your chances of overdosing.
- Try to have a sober person that can help you if something goes wrong.
Related data
Related articles
Untreated ADHD leading to addiction and drug harm
A new report shows New Zealand’s failure to adequately diagnose and treat ADHD is likely leading to significant drug harm, including from alcohol and nicotine.
New report shows NZ loses three people a week to preventable overdose
New data shows that fatal overdoses are continuing to increase.
Report: Drug overdoses in Aotearoa 2024
Three New Zealanders die each week from preventable drug overdose