• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • CALL NOW
    24 HOURS
  • 303-420-TOURS
Colorado Cannabis Tours 420 Logo
  • Cannabis Tours
  • 420-Friendly Hotels
    • Denver 420 Friendly Hotels
    • California Hotels
    • Las Vegas Hotels
  • Activities & Classes
  • Services
  • Packages
  • Special Events
    • 4/20 Events
    • Winter Holiday Events
  • The 420 Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Home

Drabinol

What are Synthetic Cannabinoids?

March 27, 2017 by Randy Robinson 2 Comments

You may have heard about the THC spray for cancer and AIDS patients. THC, of course, is the molecule in marijuana responsible for getting us high. The THC spray, sold under the brand name Marinol, is 100 percent legal in the United States with a prescription.

What’s the difference between the THC in Marinol and the THC in the cannabis plant? Chemically speaking, there isn’t any difference. The difference resides purely in the source of the THC.

When THC comes from the cannabis plant, we call it a phytocannabinoid, meaning it’s a cannabinoid chemical found in plants (phyto- means “plant” in Greek). When scientists synthesize THC in a lab, it’s a synthetic cannabinoid, meaning it’s human-made.

THC found in Marinol is just one of many synthetic cannabinoids available. A cannabinoid is defined as any molecule that interacts with cannabinoid (CB) receptors, chemical messengers found on our cells that are essential for higher lifeforms to function.

Marinol isn’t alone, either. Nabilone is another synthetic cannabinoid, with a structure similar to THC, used to control nausea and reduce pain. Sativex is a pharmaceutical spray that’s been approved for use in Europe and Canada, and may soon receive approval in the US.

Synthetic cannabinoids come in all shapes and sizes. Most of them, however, are classified as research chemicals. They’ve been made in labs, but scientists aren’t entirely sure what to do with them. Some have legitimate medical uses, like Marinol or Sativex. Others are hawked in head shops as “legal weed” or “Spice,” and you can read more about that dangerous stuff here.

Why are synthetic cannabinoids legal while marijuana is still federally outlawed? That’s a good question, and it’s not an easy one to answer. The federal government classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug – meaning it’s supposed to dangerous and have no accepted medical value – yet the federal government has given its seal of approval on several synthetic cannabinoid drugs, one of which (Marinol) is chemically identical to the cannabinoid found naturally in the plant.

The argument from the US FDA and DEA for the legality of Marinol is that Marinol has controlled doses. It’s chemically pure compared to, say, a joint, whereas the cannabis plant can have differing levels of THC along with other phytocannabinoids. Also, something about hippies and Vietnam, but I just got ripped off a dab so I forgot.

Speaking of dabs… what do synthetic cannabinoids have to do with your cannabis vacation? Absolutely. Nothing. Nothing at all.

Dispensaries and cannabis shops will not sell synthetic cannabinoids. All products sold by these licensed businesses must be derived from the cannabis plant, not a vial in some lab. Furthermore, since the synthetic cannabinoids that are available to the public are all pharmaceuticals, they can only be obtained with a prescription.

Dabs, waxes, infused edibles, tinctures, and transdermal patches are not made from synthetic cannabinoids. These all come straight from the cannabis plant, even if they require some extra steps to manufacture.

Filed Under: Legalization Tagged With: cannabinoids, Drabinol, Marinol, Synthetic Cannabis, thc

Check us out on Google Plus Engage our tweets on Twitter See our snaps on Instagram Follow our story on Facebook

Categories

  • Cannabinoids (10)
  • Cannabis Culture (44)
  • Cannabis Travel (20)
  • Events (14)
  • Guides (31)
  • How-To's and FAQ's (9)
  • Legalization (27)
  • Visit Denver (22)

Browse by tags

420 budtender Cannabis Cannabis Community Cannabis culture Cannabis Cup Cannabis Hyperemesis Cannabis Industry Cannabis Jobs Cannabis Legalization cbd CHS Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Travel Concentrates Cosmic Cannabis Culture denver dispensary Dispensary Jobs Edibles Health Health & Science Health and Wellness Hemp High Times how to Information Legalization Legal Marijuana Marijuana Marijuana Jobs Marijuana Policy Marijuana Retail Medical Marijuana Recreational Marijuana Research Science thc Things to See and Do Travel Guide vaping vaporizer Washington DC Weed
Visit our new
cannabis destinations
Visit our new cannabis friendly destinations
Cannabis Tours California Logo
Visit CannabisTours.com
Las Vegas California DC NYC FL

Questions? Call Us 24/7 at

303-420-TOURS

Send us an Email (24/7 support)

Customer Support

We’re here to help!

Open Online Chat

Colorado Cannabis Tours 420 Logo

The #1 Cannabis Themed Tourism Company

Colorado Cannabis Tours operates as an ARC accredited travel agency, educational and sightseeing tour operator and legally licensed, fully compliant luxury limousine service in partnership with our licensed limousine partners operating in the greater Denver Metropolitan area and throughout Colorado. For more information on our Company Policies.

Questions? Call Us 24/7 at

303-420-TOURS

Email us (24/7 customer support)

Connect with us!


    We never spam. We promise!

    CannabisTours.com

    Proud partners of
    CannabisTours.com

    Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association
    National Cannabis Industry Association
    Colorado Cannabis Tours BBB Business Review

    Company

    • Careers
    • Media Inquiries
    • Partner with us
    • Webmaster
    • Our Partners

    Navigation

    • Home
    • Denver Cannabis Tours
    • Denver 420 Friendly Hotels
    • 420 Friendly Ski Resort & Lodges
    • Cannabis Classes
    • Cannabis Services
    • Cannabis Tourism Packages
    • Denver 420 2023 Events (April 20th)
    • Winter Holidays Events
    • Gift Shop / Merchandise
    • Blog
    • Site Map
    Open Online Chat
    Email us (24/7 customer support)
    Cancellation, Policies & Membership
    Privacy Policy

    Get in on the newsletter


      We never spam. We promise!

      Hit us up on social!

      Partners

      Visit CannabisTours.com

      Proud partners of CannabisTours.com

      Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association
      National Cannabis Industry Association
      Colorado Cannabis Tours BBB Business Review

      Navigation

      • Home
      • Denver Cannabis Tours
      • Denver 420 Friendly Hotels
      • 420 Friendly Ski Resort & Lodges
      • Cannabis Classes
      • Cannabis Services
      • Cannabis Tourism Packages
      • Denver 420 2023 Events (April 20th)
      • Winter Holidays Events
      • Gift Shop / Merchandise
      • Blog
      • Site Map

      Company

      • Open Online Chat
      • Careers
      • Media Inquiries
      • Partner with us
      • Webmaster
      • Our Partners
      • Contact
      • Cancellation, Membership & Policies
      • Privacy Policy

      ColoradoCannabisTours.com © 2023