Synthetic Cannabinoids vs. Weed: What They Are and Why They're Riskier

Synthetic cannabinoids are made from scratch by chemists in a lab, not extracted from the plant. They're new molecules designed to mimic the effects of natural cannabinoids like THC by binding to the same receptors in the body. They've been developed to better understand the body's endocannabinoid system, to create medicines, and also to dodge drug laws, which is how products sold as “synthetic weed” (think K2 or Spice) ended up on the street.

Making these compounds is a complex process that takes serious know-how in chemistry and biotech. Below we cover what sets them apart from the cannabinoids in the plant, and the risks that come with making and using them.

Natural cannabis vs. synthetic cannabinoids: what's in each

Cannabis flower comes from a natural plant that produces a wide range of chemical compounds called cannabinoids. The best known is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which is responsible for the high you get from consuming cannabis.

But in research and recreational circles, something commonly called “synthetic marijuana” has emerged. It's important to understand that the name is wrong and misleading: there's no such thing as synthetic marijuana.

Cannabis is a natural product

The female cannabis plant naturally produces a huge variety of cannabinoids. To date, more than a hundred different cannabinoids have been identified in cannabis, each with its own properties and effects.

The best known and most studied is THC, which interacts with the body's cannabinoid receptors, found mainly in the nervous system and the immune system.

Those receptors, together with the cannabinoids the body makes on its own (endocannabinoids), make up the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system plays a crucial role in regulating a range of bodily functions, and it's exactly where cannabis's natural cannabinoids do their work.

How synthetic cannabinoids differ chemically from THC

Chemically, the synthetic cannabinoids sold as “synthetic weed” are very different from the natural cannabinoids in cannabis. They mimic the pharmacological action of THC, but their chemical structure isn't the same.

A more accurate name is “synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists,” because although they act on the same receptors in the body, they can do it far more powerfully and often unpredictably.

Makeup and psychoactive effects

Natural cannabis contains a variety of cannabinoids, with THC being the best known for its high. Besides THC, the plant contains other cannabinoids and terpenes that shape its effects and its distinctive aroma. The body's endocannabinoid system interacts with all these compounds in complex ways, which produces a wide range of effects.

Synthetic cannabinoids, on the other hand, are designed to hit the same receptors in the endocannabinoid system, but their chemical structure is artificial and can differ significantly from natural THC.

Their effects may feel similar to THC's at first, but these compounds tend to be much more potent and have a far less predictable effect profile.

Risks and side effects of synthetic cannabinoids

Natural cannabis has low toxicity and a generally well-understood effect profile. Synthetic cannabinoids carry much bigger risks. Using synthetic marijuana can lead to a range of serious adverse effects, including:

• Higher toxicity: Synthetic cannabinoids can cause severe and often unpredictable adverse effects, including cardiovascular, neurological and gastrointestinal problems that you don't usually see with natural cannabis.
• Side effects: Reported adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, racing heart, anxiety and, in some cases, seizures and psychosis. Natural cannabis, by comparison, has a much milder and more manageable side-effect profile.
• Poisoning risk: The potency and variability of synthetic cannabinoids can lead to more cases of acute poisoning, often requiring emergency medical care. Natural cannabis, by contrast, generally carries a much lower risk of serious poisoning.

Bottom line

Synthetic cannabinoids can mimic some of the effects of the THC in natural cannabis, but their different chemistry and potency make them far riskier.

Natural cannabis, with its more balanced effect profile and lower toxicity, remains the safer option compared to synthetic marijuana products, which can lead to serious and dangerous adverse effects. Knowing the difference is key to making safer decisions about what you consume.