An emerging trend in Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPSs): designer THC

Summary & key facts

This review explains that many THC-like chemicals have been made from Δ9-THC over time. It describes their chemistry, how they are made, how they act in the body, lab testing methods, and reports from users. Some of these compounds occur in tiny amounts in natural cannabis, others are made in labs or from legal hemp/CBD to avoid laws; new variants appear every month, and their health risks are often unknown while research lags behind the market.

Key facts:

• Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is one of the main components of cannabis and binds to the CB1 receptor, which helps produce its psychoactive effects.
• Medicinal chemists created more potent THC derivatives originally as research tools and to look for medical uses.
• Many of the stronger or modified THC-like compounds have been adopted for recreational use rather than only for research or medicine.
• The review summarizes a large and growing number of THC-like cannabinoids on the recreational market and covers their chemistry, synthesis, pharmacology, laboratory analysis, and user-reported effects.
• Some THC-like compounds are present in natural cannabis in trace amounts, while others are entirely artificial.
• To avoid legal restrictions, many manufacturers use semi-synthetic methods that start from legal hemp products such as cannabidiol (CBD) to make new compounds.
• New THC-like variants continue to appear frequently; the review notes that new species emerge on the users' market each month.
• These designer THC compounds pose a significant public health concern because their side effects are often unpredictable and unknown, and scientific research consistently lags behind the rapidly evolving recreational market.

Abstract

Since its discovery as one of the main components of cannabis and its affinity towards the cannabinoid receptor CB1, serving as a means to exert its psychoactivity, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) has inspired medicinal chemists throughout history ...

Topics

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research GABA and Rice Research Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Agonist Biochemistry Business Cannabidiol Cannabinoid Cannabinoid receptor Cannabis Chemistry Designer drug Drug Drug discovery Law Medicine Pharmacology Political science Psychiatry Receptor Recreation Recreational Drug Synthetic cannabinoids Tetrahydrocannabinol