Description

• Cannabinoids are a broad, structurally diverse group, united by their binding to and agonist properties at the cannabinoid receptor
• Cannabis is plant matter from Cannabis species (C. sativa, C. indica):
  • It can be processed into:
    • A pressed resin (hashish, hash)
    • An oil extracted from the resin (hash oil)
    • Extracted into a solvent (butane hash oil [BHO], 710, dab, wax, shatter, etc.)
  • Primary psychoactive compound is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC):
    • THC content varies significantly between products, with the extracted forms typically having higher percentages
    • Cannabinol and cannabidiol (CBD) are minimally psychoactive and are present in varying proportions
    • The legal status of recreational and medicinal purposes varies on a state-to-state basis
    • Both delta 9 and delta 8 THC cause similar psychoactive effects
• Synthetic cannabinoids are an ever-changing group of cannabinoid receptor agonists, which may be more closely tied by their marketing strategy than by any similarities in chemical structure or toxidrome:
  • This group emerged in 2004, as herbal incense blends, laced with a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist
  • Toxidromes are much more severe
• Inhaled or ingested:
  • When inhaled, peak concentrations are reached in 3–10 min
  • When ingested, onset may take up to 3 hr, with peak effects at 2–6 hr

Epidemiology