Lost in Spice

Includes information about SPICE &

changes to the Misuse of Drugs act
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 Old Spice
Spice, Clockwork Orange, Psyclone, Spice has gone from being sold as
Exodus Damnation, Black Mamba ... a ‘legal’ substitute to cannabis, to a
these and many others were brand much more potent and dangerous
names printed on packets that drug used mainly by homeless people
contained chopped up plants. and prisoners.
These plants don’t get you high, The government have introduced
however, they are sprayed with numerous laws since 2009 trying
chemicals that do. (and failing) to control Spice. They
have now probably succeeded in
These chemicals are called synthetic making them all illegal.
cannabinoids. There are hundreds of
different synthetic cannabinoids. To put it simply ... All known types
of synthetic cannabinoids are now
One of the first brands on sale was (probably) class B drugs and are
called ‘Spice’. This is now used as a illegal to possess, supply etc.
street name for any of these products. (See page 11 for more information on Spice
and the law)
Spice may still come in branded
packets or as a C-liquids (to go in
vaporisers) or as a powder, but is now
more commonly sold in clear plastic
snap bags containing plants coated in
one or more synthetic cannabinoid.

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 Strong Spice
The cannabis plant contains chemicals Spice has an effect in very small
called cannabinoids. The main one doses. Much smaller amounts will
that gets you high is THC. get you high than even the strongest
‘skunk-weed’ types of cannabis.
When you smoke cannabis the THC
stimulates special areas of your The biggest mistake first time Spice
brain (called cannabinoid receptors). users make, is using too much.
Depending on how much you smoke,
this leads to you to feeling ... stoned, If you are using herbal Spice, a pinch
blazed, wasted, totally F.U.B.A.R. the size of a match head is enough to
get you very high.
Synthetic cannabinoids are man made
chemicals. They are quite different to It is very easy to use too much if you
THC but they stimulate the same areas are using Spice powder sprinkled
in your brain. In fact some are much onto tobacco. If you are buying herbal
better at stimulating your brain than Spice in a snap bag from a dealer
THC. This is why the effects of Spice or friend it is impossible to know
can be quite different to cannabis and what is in it or how potent it will
much stronger (up to 800 times). be. The chemical will not be evenly
distributed, so some bits of this mix
Some synthetic cannabinoids are may be much stronger than others.
much stronger than others. The
potency of different Spice packets C-liquid should never be used ‘neat’.
also depends on the amount of Start with a tiny drop mixed with
chemical sprayed onto the plants. e-liquid to see how potent it is.

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 Scary Spice
The effects of Spice start within At high doses Spice can cause
seconds of smoking it. The effects frightening visions or hallucinations.
vary depending on which type you It can take you to what feels like a
use and how much you smoke. different reality, almost the same as
this one, but a lot more scary. The
For new users, with large doses or mental effects together with the
stronger types, the effects can be physical effects can cause panic.
overpowering.
Thankfully, the scary stuff doesn’t
You may feel numb in your arms and usually last more than half an hour
legs; lose your balance or collapse; before more cannabis like effects waft
you may get cramps; might vomit; over you. You will usually feel straight
may sweat; a nasty rash may develop (sometimes suddenly) within an hour
and you may feel like bugs are provided you don’t smoke any more.
crawling under your skin.
However, plenty of people have ended
Your chest will feel tight and you may up in hospital as a result of using
have trouble breathing. Your heart Spice. Spice is highly toxic* and is
races and may beat erratically. without doubt, far more dangerous
You will be confused if not down right than good old-fashioned cannabis.
confuckinfuzzled as you try and work 24 people died in 2018 after using Spice.
out what, where and who you are.

* Synthetic cannabinoids may cause muscle breakdown, both high and low blood pressure, acute kidney
injury, seizures, heart attack, low potassium levels and might even trigger serotonin syndrome.

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 Spice Zombies
Those not put off by their first Some can stop using Spice without
experience may soon notice that any bother, while others find it very
Spice starts to feel more ‘cannabis difficult. They may sweat a lot, have
like’ when used regularly. trouble sleeping and have intense
cravings for Spice if they stop.
You may start to use more to try and
get the same effect, in fact Spice can Some people try going back to
be very, very moreish. cannabis, but after using Spice the
effects of cannabis can seem mild.
Most people now say Spice is
far more habit forming than real Like real cannabis, Spice may trigger
cannabis. mental illness (psychosis) in some
people. Particularly those who have
A Spice habit can develop very quickly. had mental health problems or have
You may start to smoke it all day, then a history of it in the family.
get up in the middle of the night to
smoke more. You may get agitated if We know next to nothing about the
you don’t have any spice. long-term effects of Spice, as nobody
has ever used it for a long time. Those
Friends may notice that you stumble using it for three, four, five years are
around looking like a pink eyed the guinea pigs for our understanding
zombie. They may notice changes of the long-term risks.
in your behaviour.

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 Spice Laws
The synthetic cannabinoid contained a new law called The Psychoactive
in the original ‘Spice’ brand ( JWH-018) Substances Act. This law made it an
was made illegal in 2009. But ‘legal offence to sell anything that can get
high’ producers just made Spice with you high ... crikey!
other ‘legal’ synthetic cannabinoids
such as AM-2201. Finally, in December 2016 the Misuse
of Drugs Act was amended again.
AM-2201 was found in the brand This amendment (probably) means
named Black Mamba. These new that at the third time of trying all of
synthetic cannabinoids were even the synthetic cannabinoids are now
stronger than those they had banned. controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act.
In 2013 the government tried again To put it simply ... All known types of
and banned AM-2201 along with a long Spice are now (probably) class B drugs
list of other synthetic cannabinoids. and are illegal to possess, supply etc.
Can you guess what happened?
If the police catch you with Spice, you
Those naughty ‘legal high’ producers will probably be arrested. The police
made Spice using other synthetic will now rightly assume it contains a
cannabinoids (such as 5F AKB-48). synthetic cannabinoid controlled by
These chemicals were still legal – Doh! the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The government were so cross with
those naughty legal high producers
that in April 2016 they brought in

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 Spice Testing & prisons
Possession of Spice in prison, (young You won’t test positive in a drug test
offender or removal centre etc.) or of for real cannabis if you smoke Spice,
any other psychoactive substance but there are tests available for the
has been an offence under the chemicals (synthetic cannabinoids)
Psychoactive Substances Act since in Spice.
April 2016.
Because there are so many synthetic
Since December 2016 when the cannabinoids not all of them will be
Misuse of Drugs Act was amended, any picked up by existing drug tests. It is
form of Spice is treated the same as also difficult to know how long after
other class B drugs such as cannabis. you have smoked Spice that they can
be detected in tests.
Anyone caught taking Spice in
through visits is committing an New prison rules also allow for
offence. Mandatory Drug Testing of drugs that
are not controlled by the Misuse of
There are also plans to introduce Drugs Act such as pregablin.
more security measures including
training sniffer dogs to detect Spice. It is an offence to drive a car
while intoxicated with any drug
or substance.

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 Spice Advice
• Always start a new batch of • Spice effects can be frightening,
Spice with a tiny (match head particularly for new users.
size) test dose. Don’t panic – it won’t last forever.
• It is easier to control your dosage • If you can avoid it, don’t use alone.
and avoid overdose if you smoke
Spice mixed with tobacco. • If you or a friend experiences
severe vomiting, breathing
• Avoid smoking Spice neat or in difficulties, seizures or any other
a bong or pipe. serious symptoms – ring for an
ambulance.
• Never use C-liquids neat. Use one
drop mixed with a barrel full of • If somebody is unconscious and
e-liquid to test potency. you can’t wake them, lay them on
their tummy (the recovery position)
• Be very careful if using Spice
to stop them choking on their own
powder. Remember the old drug
vomit (see below) – then call
users saying ‘You can always take
for help.
more, but you can never take less’.
• It’s best to smoke sitting as you
may fall over or pass out.

If you feel your use of Spice is getting out of hand or you are having trouble
stopping – confidential help and advice is available.
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 aims
To highlight the law and the known risks and raise
the main health and safety and legal issues around
the use of synthetic cannabinoids.

audience
Young people, adults and prisoners at risk of or
engaged in the use of synthetic cannabinoids.
Use with under 16s with support.

content
Some swearing.

funding
Pilot funded by Public Health Salford.

To re-order go to exchangesupplies.org
Product code: LH4 | Fourth edition | January 2019
Published by: Exchange Supplies, 1 Great Western Industrial Centre, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1RD.
Text, design and illustrations: Michael Linnell.
At the time of writing the legal information in this booklet is correct
– search for LH4 on the Exchange Supplies website for version information, and updates.