Synthetic cannabinoid

A synthetic cannabinoid is a laboratory-made compound designed to act on cannabinoid receptors, ranging from approved prescription drugs to unregulated designer chemicals.

The term covers two very different worlds. On one side are FDA-approved medicines such as dronabinol and nabilone, which are synthetic forms of THC prescribed for specific uses. On the other are illicit products sold under street names, which contain potent designer compounds sprayed on plant material and have been linked to serious harm.

Synthetic cannabinoids are not CBD, and their safety profiles can differ dramatically from plant cannabinoids; many designer compounds bind the CB1 receptor far more strongly than THC does. Laboratory-made CBD that is chemically identical to plant CBD is a separate matter and is not what the term usually means. Synthetic cannabinoid exposure is a recognized emergency in both people and pets, and SAMHSA and poison control resources address it.