CDC Reports Spike in Adverse Effects Related to Synthetic Cannabinoid Use

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

U.S. poison centers received over 3500 calls related to synthetic cannabinoid use from January through May 2015 — a 200% increase from the same period in 2014 — according to a CDC analysis published in MMWR.

Synthetic cannabinoids are produced by spraying psychoactive chemicals onto a plant, which is then smoked or ingested. They are marketed under names such as K2, black mamba, and spice, and they are sometimes sold in stores as herbal products.

In the CDC analysis, the most frequent adverse effects were agitation, tachycardia, drowsiness/lethargy, vomiting, and confusion. Among cases for which medical outcomes were known, 11% had a major adverse effect (life-threatening or resulting in substantial disability), and nearly half had a moderate adverse effect (not life-threatening, but usually requiring treatment). Use among males accounted for 80% of all cases.

The MMWR authors conclude that synthetic cannabinoids might "pose an emerging public health threat."