Synthetic Cannabinoid Use and Sudden Death

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoids are chemical compounds that act on the cannabinoid receptors to produce psychoactive effects. Originally created to better understand the cannabinoid receptors, these drugs are readily accessible over the internet or in “head shops” and are sold as herbal incense under various names such as K2, Spice, K9, or Legal Phunk. While neurologic and cardiac toxicity from the use of these compounds has been described, and deaths of individuals that have used synthetic cannabinoids have been publicized in the media, no fatalities directly related to synthetic cannabinoid toxicity have been reported in the scientific literature. This report describes a fatality directly related to the toxic effects of synthetic cannabinoid use. It will also review the development of synthetic cannabinoids, current literature with respect to their toxicity, and the regulatory issues surrounding these substances.