This episode is an overview of the dangers of synthetic cannabinoids and some mythbusting about their safety and their similarities to naturally produced cannabinoids. Stay safe, everyone!

1. Dawson, A. 2 dead, 41 hospitalized in Hillsborough from poisonous batch of 'Spice' Tampa Bay Times [Online], 2021. https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2021/12/15/2-dead-41-hospitalized-in-hillsborough-from-poisonous-batch-of-spice/ (accessed 01 Apr 2022).

2. Gottlieb, S., Statement from FDA warning about significant health risks of contaminated illegal synthetic cannabinoid products that are being encountered by FDA. US Food and Drug Administration: fda.gov, 2018.

3. Powell, D. The spice of death: The science behind tainted "synthetic marijuana" Scientific American [Online], 2018. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-spice-of-death-the-science-behind-tainted-synthetic-marijuana/ (accessed 04 Apr 2022).

4. . K2 crackdown in NYC: Police warn of "dangerous batch" after 56 overdoses reported CBS News [Online], 2018. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/k2-crackdown-in-nyc-police-warn-of-dangerous-batch-after-56-overdoses-reported/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a (accessed 01 Apr 2022).

5. Penaloza, M. America's Synthetic Marijuana Overdose Crisis, Explained NPR [Online], 2018. https://www.npr.org/2018/07/27/632261920/d-c-has-had-more-than-300-suspected-k2-overdoses-in-2-weeks (accessed 01 Apr 2022).

6. Walton, A. G. Why Synthetic Marijuana is More Toxic to the Brain than Pot Forbes [Online], 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2014/08/28/6-reasons-synthetic-marijuana-spice-k2-is-so-toxic-to-the-brain/?sh=779d6b6173b1 (accessed 01 Apr 2022).

7. K2/Spice. Administration, D. E., Ed. Drug Enforcement Administration: dea.gov, 2020.

8. Rettner, R. Synthetic marijuana linked to seizures, pyschosis and death Huffpost [Online], 2017. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/synthetic-marijuana-linked-to-seizures-psychosis-and-death_n_5899f9d6e4b0406131395f53 (accessed 04 Apr 2022).

9. Fantegrossi, W. E.;  Moran, J. H.;  Radominska-Pandya, A.; Prather, P. L., Distinct pharmacology and metabolism of K2 synthetic cannabinoids compared to Δ9-THC: Mechanism underlying greater toxicity? Life Sci 2014, 97 (1), 45-54.

10. Oyedemi, S. O.;  Yakubu, M. T.; Afolayan, A. J., Effect of aqueous extract of Leonotis leonurus (L.) R. Br. leaves in male Wistar rats. Human Exp Tox 2010, 29 (5), 377-384.

11. Pertwee, R. G., Cannabinoid pharmacology: the first 66 years. BJP 2006, 147, S163-171.

12. Fattore, L.; Fratta, W., Beyond THC: The new generation of cannabinoid designer drugs. Front Behav Neurosci 2011, 5 (60), 12.

13. Maron, D. F. Fake weed leads to a real drug crisis Scientific American [Online], 2015. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fake-weed-leads-to-a-real-drug-crisis1/ (accessed 04 Apr 2022).

14. The Effects of Mixing Spice (K2) and Alcohol. https://www.alcohol.org/mixing-with/spice-k2/.

15. Sheikh, I. A.;  Lukšič, M.;  Ferstenberg, R.; Culpepper-Morgan, J. A., Spice/K2 synthetic marijuana-induced toxic hepatitus treated with N-acetylcysteine. Am J Case Rep 2014, 15, 584-588.

16. Harris, J. Calls about poisonings from fake marijuana edibles, candy triple News 4 Jax [Online], 2020. https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2020/09/22/calls-about-poisonings-from-fake-marijuana-edibles-candy-triple/ (accessed 06 Apr 2022).