I can’t remember the first time someone warned me about Spice, but since whenever that was, I have heard it a million and a half times. The dangers and effects of K2 were seen throughout the country, and throughout my town. The ‘Zombie Drug’ was contributing to the drug epidemic enough, so when the hype for Spice died down, I became weary of this “new synthetic cannabis” sold at vape shops and gas stations.

Yes, I am indeed talking about products like “Delta-8”, “THC-O” and others like them.

These cannabis derivatives were an immediate success in my community for their legality, effects and availability. I remember trying a Delta-8 product and understanding that someone could feel “high”, but the feeling felt wrong. Wrong enough to pique my interest on the nature of synthetic cannabinoids and what this new product was. Soon after I tried this “legal weed” I learned of a close friend who was in the hospital. Her lung had collapsed and the doctors diagnosed her with something called “CHS”.

CHS, or Cannabinoid Hypermesis Syndrome, causes someone to severely vomit regularly and when I looked it up and read that it occurs in “long-term users” I became worried. My friend had only started smoking cannabis recently and was not a heavy smoker. Looking deeper, I found that this condition can be caused by related chemicals in THC products, and even can be brought on by unsafe consumption. My brain immediately wondered, “Is it Delta-8?”.

I called my friends mom and asked if she had been regularly smoking weed from the gas station and reported back to me that my friend had been regularly using Delta-8 products as a THC substitute.

Looking deeper, I found that Delta-8, and its predecessors, are found in sativa strains of cannabis flower, but in very minuscule amounts. So concentrated amounts of these compounds are manufactured from CBD oil. But that didn’t make sense to me either. How do you get high off of CBD? An amazing essay on the matter by scientist Christopher Hudalla highlights just exactly “what” is in these products and the dangers. https://thecannabisscientist.com/testing-processing/we-believe-in-unicorns-and-delta-8

This article is my go to source to educate people on how these synthetic cannabinoids are altered, manufactured, and the effects. I sent my friend that article as soon as she got out of the hospital, and after recovery she started smoking THC cannabis for pain again and she is asymptomatic of her CHS to this day.

Some people have had great experiences with Delta-8 or synthetic weed and although I acknowledge the problems with access, and legal consumption, I urge people to think about what they are putting in their bodies, and take advantage of Minnesotas recent change in Legislature.

In conclusion, I would say synthetic cannabinoids are a Don’t.

What are your experiences with these products?

What are your thoughts on the article provided?

(Early 200’s anti weed commercial voice): “This is your body on Delta-8”

Young people who have chronic, daily pain often have to prove their disability to others to fight the notion that ‘young = healthy.’ This makes it difficult for young disabled adults to obtain proper healthcare, testing and treatment.

When, (or if) disabled young adults do get answers, or a diagnosis, we are more than likely met with the harsh reality that the illness’s “treatment” is the prescription of pain medications.

These pain medications are dangerous, addictive, lethal, and the leading cause of America’s opioid epidemic.

I was 15 when my doctor referred me to a “pain management specialist” to treat my chronic pain. This pain doctor told me all that she could do for me was prescribe pills. She assured me and my mother these pills were not addictive (usually) and that I would be safe. I didn’t have to take them for even a week to confirm that these pills, indeed could get me high.

Flash forward to obtaining my Cannabis Card, I finally conquered the challenges and was heard by professionals, sober from prescription pain meds, and treated for my illness in a healthy, and safe way.

Cannabis isn’t just a miracle cure for me, but for so many others. I encourage you all to share your experiences surrounding cannabis. Whether that be recreational, or medical usage, or exposure to others’ usage.