Online Sales and Use of Synthetic Cannabinoids Preliminary findings from a Norwegian study Ola Røed Bilgrei Anne Line Bretteville-Jensen SIRUS

New psychoactive substances Defined as narcotic or psychotropic drugs that are not controlled by United Nations Conventions, but which may pose a public health threat comparable to that posed by controlled drugs (EMCDDA).

The world of ”Legal highs” Mimics the effect of established narcotics – Synthetic cathinones (amphetamines, cocaine, MDMA) – Synthetic cocaine derivates (cocaine) – Synthetic cannabinoids (cannabis) – Salvia divinorum, Kratom etc.

The world of ”Legal highs” – Research chemicals – Plant food – Bath salt – Exotic incense – Room odourisers – Pond cleaners – Party pills – Ethnobotanicals – Herbal highs – Smoking blends

Synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 was nothing special, but it was one of the more potent compounds we made, and it was quite easy to make from commercially available materials. Probably the reason it has now caught on. (...) My biggest surprise was that this all hadn't happened sooner. All it needed was somebody with a reasonable understanding of science to see the papers we had published and think, 'Aha!’. - John W. Huffman

Synthetic cannabinoids Appeared on the online market in 2004 Sold as organic herbs with an alleged cannabis-like effect – ‘Spice’ Contained the synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 and CP-47,497 Widely available throughout the Internet – In smoking mixtures and as a highly potent powder

Background 690 new websites between January 2010 and January new substances between 1997 and Reports of 49 new substances in 2011.

Methods Mixed methods – Quantitative (still waiting for results) A representative sample of adults Experiences of buying synthetic cannabinoids through the Internet – Qualitative 12 interviews (so far) Aged 15 – 29 years old (all male) All had smoked synthetic cannabinoids Active members in a online drug-related discussion forum

Preliminary findings Reasons to smoke synthetic cannabinoids – Cheap – Strong potency – Easy availability – Legal – No detection on drug screenings

The role of the Internet – If you have a mailbox and a computer, you can buy whatever kind of drug you like. – On the drug-related forums, people post a variety of ‘trip- reports’, where they describe the effect of the purported drug. It was on these kind of sites I first heard about ‘Spice’.

The price was a main factor – It’s practically for free. I guess you would use more money on the things you eat while you’re high, than on getting high. We don’t think about money when it comes to JWH. It’s never a problem, cause you know you’ll have enough for three months when you buy.

Strong potency and easy availability – It’s basically the effect, how good it is compared to the dosage. It hits you so fast, and I kind of like that. – Where I live it’s quite difficult to get your hands on hash or cannabis, so that was why I started out with synthetic cannabinoids.

Legality – I’ve never been caught doing anything illegal, I have a clean record and I don’t want that to change. So I tried to find an alternative to cannabis.

No detection on drug screenings – I was enrolled at an institution where they had drug screening tests every now and then. At that time I smoked cannabis, but I had to stop because THC would be detected. Then I found out that they couldn't check for synthetic cannabinoids, that’s basically why I started.

Risk perception and the role of Internet – I did a lot of research by myself, read a lot of trip-reports and tips on dosage and stuff like that. It’s really important for me to have an overview of how the drug works before I try it. – You know, we try different drugs, analyze the effect and post it on the web, so that others can learn. And I’m pretty confident that an honest web society with a lot of users, can provide just as good information about drugs as, for example our own government.

Changes due to an online market Indicates a major change in drug culture – Development of a new subculture? Users seem to have a fascination also for other synthesized drugs Changes the drug related economy Difficult to ban, because new substances keeps adding to the market