More than 30 overdose on synthetic marijuana in a day in Texas | kens5.com San Antonio
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It is important to remember than this article is about the designer drug "spice" or K2, which is not clinically, chemically, or pharmacologically related to Marinol/dronabinol, THC, or cannabis.
There is frequently confusion around terms like "synthetic marijuana" because some people go immediately to "Spice", which this article is about, while others go to Marinol/dronabinol.
Marinol/dronabinol is a 100% legal in all 50 states pharmaceutical. It is regulated under the Controlled Substances Act under Schedule 3 (CIII). Marinol is not "medical marijuana", Marinol isn't cannabis at all. Marinol is laboratory created synthetic THC that is suspended in sesame oil and encapsulated in gelatin capsules. Aside from the high price tag, Marinol also fails patients because it lacks CBD (cannabidiol) and is taken orally. When taken orally, THC bioavailability/absorption is low and highly variable & unpredictable. Because it is given orally, it also undergoes hepatic first pass metabolism, which converts the Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol into a much more psychoactive metabolite that is less effective for pain control, anxiety, and nausea.
The failure of Marinol and the dangers of K2/Spice further exemplifies the need for legalization of cannabis for both medical & recreational purposes as both a means of harm reduction & being a compassionate society.