Synthetic cannabinoids: analysis and metabolites.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Chemistry
• Pharmacology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Cannabimimetics (synthetic cannabinoids) are diverse chemical compounds targeting CB1 and CB2 receptors.
• Initial development aimed for therapeutic applications with reduced side effects.
• Illicit laboratories exploit scientific data to produce these as marijuana alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review different classes of synthetic cannabinoids.
• To emphasize methods for identifying synthetic cannabinoids in herbal products.
• To highlight techniques for detecting their metabolites in biological samples.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on synthetic cannabinoid classes.
• Analysis of identification methods for synthetic cannabinoids in herbal matrices.
• Examination of analytical techniques for metabolite detection in biological specimens.

Main Results:

• Categorization of various synthetic cannabinoid chemical structures.
• Description of analytical challenges in detecting adulterants in herbal products.
• Overview of methods for forensic analysis of synthetic cannabinoids and their metabolites.

Conclusions:

• Synthetic cannabinoids pose challenges due to structural diversity and illicit use.
• Accurate identification methods are crucial for forensic and clinical toxicology.
• Further research is needed to address the evolving landscape of novel psychoactive substances.