Cannabis the Wild West

Cannabis – the Wild West of the Drug Marketplace

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.

A review of 114 jelly, sweet and chocolate products analysed in 2023 showed that only 64% contained the assumed intended purchase of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive substance in cannabis. The remaining 36% of products included a range of other synthetic cannabinoids including MDMB-4en-Pinaca, ADB-Br-Butinaca, ADB-Butinaca, ADB-Pinaca, 5F-EDMB-Pica and HHC. Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a new semi-synthetic cannabinoid that first emerged in the European drug market in mid-2022. HHC can be synthesised from CBD (Cannabidiol). HHC is chemically similar to THC and appears to have relatively similar physiological effects. Unlike THC, HHC is not a controlled substance in most European countries and worryingly is being sold as a safe or legal replacement in conventional THC products

Unfortunately adverse side-effects from the ingestion of attractively packaged & often mislabelled ‘cannabis-infused’ and ‘THC’ type products are an increasingly common occurrence. In November 2023 four teenagers became ill and were hospitalised after vaping – analysis of these vapes by FSI identified the presence of HHC. Clearly these products remain a significant risk to the public with ongoing vigilant monitoring of emerging trends required.