Synthetic Cannabinoids and Synthetic Cannabinoid-Induced Psychotic Disorders

Abstract Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are cannabimimetic compounds that represent a large and diverse class of novel psychoactive substances. SCs can exert full- or even super-agonist activity at cannabinoid receptors, while Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive phytocannabinoid in cannabis, has weak, partial agonist activity at cannabinoid receptors. SCs may therefore have higher addictive liability than natural cannabis. SC consumption has been associated with psychotomimetic effects, the induction of psychotic disorders, and other clinically relevant effects of acute toxicity. These conditions are qualitatively and quantitatively different from those observed after cannabis intake, with SC ingestion also being associated with increasing numbers of confirmed fatalities.