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Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of designer drug molecules that bind to the same receptors to which
cannabinoids (THC and CBD) in cannabis plants attach. Typically synthetic cannabinoids are sprayed onto
plant matter and are usually smoked. Reported user negative effects include palpitations, paranoia, intense
anxiety, nausea, vomiting, confusion, poor coordination, and seizures. There have also been reports of a strong
compulsion to re-dose, withdrawal symptoms and persistent cravings. There have been several deaths linked to
synthetic cannabinoids worldwide.
In 2021 Forensic Science Ireland detected five new synthetic cannabinoids in exhibits seized by An Garda
Siochana. Each of these synthetic cannabinoids was present on plant material in an attempt to appear as if
they were cannabis. The synthetic cannabinoids are ADB-BUTINACA, MDMB-4en-PINACA, 5F-EDMB-PICA,
CUMYL-5F-P7AICA and 5F-MDMB-PICA. Forensic Science Ireland reports all new compound detections via the
National and European Early Warning networks (EWET and EMCDDA).

The drug marketplace is a complex, rapidly evolving, unregulated and deceptive space. FSI analyses thousands of samples of white powder each year and an array of different chemical compounds are detected in these powders.

In 2019 FSI encountered the first submission of jelly sweets in plastic sachets, which on analysis were found to
contain controlled drugs. At the time we couldn’t have anticipated the significance of these innocent looking
bags of sweets. In three short years the popularity of these sweets has grown so rapidly that in 2022 work
practices and long standing procedures in the drugs section have been amended to better accommodate this
growing area of casework.

Cannabis and related cannabinoid products accounted for 42% of all cases analysed by FSI in 2023. The traditional cannabis market is no longer a homogenous arena and is now a dynamically evolving space with ongoing rapid emergence of a dizzying array of synthetic cannabinoid products – it is truly the Wild West of the drug marketplace.