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Dutchess_III's avatar

What is synthetic marijuana and why would there even be demand for it?

Asked by Dutchess_III (46815points) July 22nd, 2014

It’s been decades since I partook, but the real stuff wasn’t prohibitively expensive back then. Has that changed? If not, why do they even come up with fake pot?

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20 Answers

Darth_Algar's avatar

There’s a demand for it because it’s legal, despite being dangerous, while the real is outlawed despite being basically safe. Legalize real marijuana and the market for the synthetic shit will disappear overnight.

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

What he said. It was a big problem with kids in my area but they have been cracking down on it and it’s nearly gone now. They sold it at gas stations and it was labeled as innocent things like “incense.” It causes all kinds of health problems like kidney failure, stroke and psychosis. Bad news.

RocketGuy's avatar

It’s dried leaves soaked in strange chemicals that cause symptoms similar to being stoned when they are smoked. At least in real marijuana, you know what the chemical is (THC), and what it does to your brain.

El_Cadejo's avatar

@RocketGuy for the most part, you can know what the chemicals are, it’s generally a JWH compound. As they ban one, another comes out. The bigger problem is the dosage. These compounds aren’t safe to begin with and have a VERY low effect threshold and a low margin between threshold effects and overdose effects (the difference is micrograms). Since this plant matter (usually dagga, damiana, and skullcap) are just sprayed with it, the dosage is quite uneven. One time you can smoke and be fine, the next time you can smoke and have catastrophic effects.

I’ve seen people complain that their brain felt like it was on fire, throw up, and in one case go into a seizure from the stuff.Horrible stuff, thankfully there has been quite a crackdown on these compounds as of late.

Dan_Lyons's avatar

There is a demand for it for the same reason there are idiots inhaling spray plastic and other brain cell destroying chems.
The world is not a fun place for many and they see no way out other than suicide and killing their brains.
As for price of pot. It has been until recently $120 for a quarter ounce and $60 for an eighth. Since it has been decriminalized and even is becoming legal (Washington and Colorado) the prices have dropped dramatically.
You can score an eighth now for $35 and quarters for $60 to $70. And this stuff is kickass ganja girl!

Bill1939's avatar

If it were legal here, I would not buy or sell it, but I might grow a plant or two.

majorrich's avatar

There is a form of synthetic THC which is used to stimulate appetite and is used in geriatric patients with low appetite, and people with certain eating disorders.

Dutchess_III's avatar

@Bill1939 It isn’t something one grows. It’s something one…makes. By soaking leaves in chemicals.

MollyMcGuire's avatar

It’s not fake pot. It’s synthetic THC and was one of big pharma’s most promising successes. They, with all of their big bucks, have lobbied to keep pot illegal so doctors could prescribe the chemical stuff with all of its dangers and side effects. For once, they are going to lose this battle. More and more states are allowing medical marijuana and two states have completely legalized it. I’ve never used pot but I think it’s time to quit using our resources trying to prohibit its use.

Darth_Algar's avatar

Folks. We’re not talking about Marinol or anything like that. We’re talking about “spice” and “incense”. Unregulated shit sprayed with chemicals and sold at gas stations and other establishments of sometimes questionable repute so dipshits who are too fucking stupid to know any better can get a quasi-legal high from something other than sniffing magic markers or huffing gasoline fumes.

Bill1939's avatar

@Dutchess_III Sorry I got off topic.

jerv's avatar

I’m glad I live in WA state where the real stuff is legal…

El_Cadejo's avatar

@Darth_Algar Exactly. @MollyMcGuire and @majorrich Marinol is a pure isomer of THC, the JWH and WIN series of compounds that we are talking about and are found in “spice” and the like have a completely different molecular structure.

majorrich's avatar

My Mother took Marinol for a while for poor appetite from depression. My wife and I secretly giggled that we could cook her up some brownies to help her without the pills.

Dutchess_III's avatar

So is Marinol legal?

Darth_Algar's avatar

@Dutchess_III “So is Marinol legal?”

If you have a prescription, yes.

El_Cadejo's avatar

Marinol is a Schedule III drug

” The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.

The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.”

Schedule II and III drugs can be prescribed legally.

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