Synthetic Cannabinoids and Bath Salts

Seth Cooper Jason Kennedy Kansas City Police Crimelab

A Brief History

 Synthetic Cannabinoids and Bath Salts have become one of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement and other disciplines within the last five years  These drugs are synthesized in an attempt to mimic the effects of controlled substances  Both synthetic cannabinoids and bath salts can trace their origins to “legitimate” research • Many of the synthetic cannabinoids come from the research of John W. Huffman out of Clemson University (JWH Compounds) • The research of David Nichols out of Purdue University has yielded several MDMA and LSD-like compounds that have shown up in street drug samples

OG K2

 Original synthetic cannabinoids contained JWH-018: O N CH 3  This became the “base” in which to modify and/or to add a variety of functional groups

JWH-018

 Chemical name = 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole  Structure composed of three “components”: O N Indole Side Chain CH 3 Naphthalene

Modification of structure

 First place attacked was side chain: JWH-073 JWH-019 Length JWH-200 AM-2201 Functional Groups

Further Modification

 Modifications were made to other portions of the structure: JWH-203 JWH-081 JWH-210

Complex Modifications

 In an attempt to stay ahead of legislation, continually more complex structural modifications have been popping up: XLR11 AKB48

Bath Salts

 Originally appeared as substituted cathinones: O O H N Methcathinone (Ephedrone) H N 4-Methylmethcathinone (Mephedrone) O H N F 4-Fluoromethcathinone (Flephedrone) O O NH 2 4-methoxymethcathinone Methedrone O NH 2 Cathinone O H N 4-Methylethcathinone O O Butylone O H N O O O H N 3,4-Methylenedioxymethcathinone (Methylone) O O O N 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)  More substitutions have been seen as well as complete deviation to other substances that have similar effects

Pharmacology

 Most of the information for pharmacology of synthetic cannabinoids and bath salts comes from legitimate research • Most of this is based on tests performed on mice and rats • More information is available for synthetic cannabinoids than bath salts  Most of the compounds found in “K2” samples are cannabinoid receptor agonists • Cannabinoid receptor agonists target the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain • Potency of synthetic cannabinoids is commonly described using a Ki value: • THC Ki = 10.2

• HU-210 Ki = 0.06

• JWH-018 Ki = 2.9

• JWH-081 Ki = 1.2

• JWH-122 Ki = 0.69

• JWH-210 Ki = 0.46

Pharmacology (cont.)

 Bath Salts  Most compounds are substituted cathinones and have stimulant effects  Some of these compounds also have hallucinogenic effects  Substituted cathinones believed to be less potent MMC MDMC Methamphetamine MDMA (Ecstasy)

Legislation – Synthetic Cannabinoids

 Originally tried to control individual compounds • • JWH-018, JWH-073, HU-210, CP 47.497

Slowly added more as they were seen • Constantly playing catch-up  Class Approach • Naphthoylindoles and naphthylmethylindoles (JWH-018, JWH-073, AM2201) • Naphthoylpyrroles (JWH-307) • Naphthylmethylindenes (JWH-176) • • Phenylacetylindoles (JWH-201, JWH-203, JWH-250, RCS-8) Cyclohexylphenols (CP 47,497) • Benzoylindoles (AM-694, RCS-4)

Legislation – alternative approaches



Missouri statutes (195-010)

 A “Controlled Substance Analog” is also controlled  What does this mean?

 Chemists have been educated on what determines whether one substance is an analog of another  The statutes have their own definition

Scientific Definition of Analog



Analog

 Structural Analog - a compound having a structure similar to that of another one, but differing from it in respect of a certain component. It can differ in one or more atoms, functional groups, or substructures, which are replaced with other atoms, groups, or substructures Methane Silane  Functional Analog – a compound having similar physical, chemical, biochemical, or pharmacological properties O O N CH 3 F

Legislation – alternative approaches



Missouri statutes (195-010)



Analog

 Any new substance can be considered a controlled “analog” if: • It has a substantially similar structure to a Schedule I or II hallucinogen, stimulant, or opiate, AND, • It has the same CNS effects as the related Schedule I or II hallucinogen, stimulant, or opiate, OR, • It was possessed or sold with the knowledge of being an analog

Legislation – alternative approaches



Missouri Statutes (195-010)

 Anything falling under the definition of “Synthetic Cannabinoid” is also controlled  “Synthetic Cannabinoid” is defined as: • "any natural or synthetic material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contains any quantity of a substance that is a cannabinoid receptor agonist…”

Legislation – Bath Salts

 Currently individual compounds are controlled: • 3-Fluoromethcathinone, 4-Fluoromethcathinone • 4-Methylmethcathinone (Mephederone) • 4-Methoxymethcathinone • Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) • 3,4-Methylenedioxymethcathinone (MDMC) • 4-Methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinobutiophenone (MPBP)  These compounds have been further modified and seen in street samples: • 4-Ethylmethcathinone • 4-Methylethcathinone • 3,4-Methylenedioxyethylcathinone (Ethylone) • Butylone • • Pentedrone Naphyrone

It’s there!

 Most of synthetic drug compounds are covered under Missouri statutes in one way or another • They may be specifically listed – not likely for the newer compounds • They may be covered in a class of compounds • They may fall under the definition of “Synthetic Cannabinoid” • They may be an analog of a controlled substance • This controlled substance may be listed specifically or may also be covered in a class of compounds • Controlled substance must be a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance

It’s not going to be easy!

 Synthetic drugs make everyone’s job harder • What products do I recover?

• How do I analyze these samples?

• How do I file this case?

• Who do I get to testify at trial?

• How can I present this information at trial so that the jury will understand it?

Is it worth it?

 If marijuana is being made legal, why try to control synthetic marijuana?

• • Some of these compounds are much more potent than THC There is no research on long-term effects • There is no quality control on what is being sold  The means are currently available to penalize the people responsible for the manufacturing and sale of these dangerous drugs  Precedence only takes one successful prosecution

“a legal high does not equal a safe high -- it just means it's not illegal yet."

-David Nichols

Questions?