Synthetic Cannabinomimetics: A Brief History and the Challenges They Pose for the Forensic Chemist

Abstract

Since the first detection of synthetic cannabinomimetics in herbal smoking blends in 2008 the clandestine production of these compounds, based on seizure data, increased in number every year until ~2012. In recent years there has been a decline in synthetic cannabinomimetic production both in number and diversity. The synthetic details of the first generation cannabinoids were documented in the scientific and medical literature making production comparatively simple. Subsequent generations of synthetic cannabinoids involved more complex but still very practicable synthetic chemistry. This resulted in a period of rapid growth in synthetic cannabinoids creating a health crisis and problems for forensic chemists faced with many substances for which no certified reference materials existed. Routine forensic chemistry laboratories were well practiced at identifying known drugs using chromatographic–mass spectrometric techniques and comparison to reference materials. However as synthetic cannabinomimetics, often referred to in the literature as synthetic cannabinoids, appeared in large numbers, few laboratories were equipped with the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers and high resolution mass spectrometers (HRMS) required for identification of unknown substances. These developments also challenged public prosecutors for opinions from forensic experts as to the legality or otherwise of these novel drugs.