Synthetic Marijuana Addiction: What It Looks Like—And How You Can Find Recovery

As marijuana becomes more widely accepted and legalized throughout the United States, imitator drugs have seized the opportunity. Among the most concerning is synthetic marijuana, which continues to have influence despite the serious health risks. Unlike natural marijuana, this lab-made drug can produce dangerous and unpredictable effects, and repeated use can even lead to synthetic marijuana addiction. 

If you think a loved one may be abusing synthetic marijuana, it’s important to learn how to recognize the symptoms—and what can be done to help them overcome their addiction. At Integrative Life Center in Nashville, Tennessee, we’re here to provide synthetic weed addiction help so your loved one can heal the root struggles behind their addiction and reclaim their life. 

What is Synthetic Marijuana, Exactly?

Synthetic marijuana, also known as synthetic cannabis, synthetic weed, or synthetic cannabinoids (SC), is not one specific drug, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rather, these synthetic cannabinoids are hundreds of different chemicals manufactured in a lab to activate the same brain cell receptors as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. 

While synthetic marijuana may be marketed as a weed alternative, it’s far from the real thing. In reality, synthetic marijuana is often made by spraying chemical compounds onto dried plant material, creating products that can be far more potent and hazardous than natural cannabis. Users unknowingly leave themselves vulnerable to synthetic marijuana addiction and other challenges in the fallout.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), synthetic marijuana products are manufactured clandestinely without government regulations and sold illegally. People find them appealing because they believe the drug is less expensive than real marijuana, easier to obtain in some areas, and less likely to appear on standard drug screenings. Synthetic weed is also frequently promoted as a “legal” cannabis substitute, even though it’s not. 

Alongside substances like delta-8 THC, phenibut, and tianeptine, synthetic marijuana gets grouped into the class of “gas station drugs” because it’s commonly sold in convenience stores, smoke shops, vape stores, and online retailers. To avoid regulations, these synthetic weed products get frequently labeled as “herbal incense,” “potpourri,” or “not for human consumption.” The product packaging is often in bright, colorful designs in order to appeal to younger consumers. According to the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, some common product names of synthetic marijuana include:

• Geeked Up
• Caution
• Smacked
• Kush
• K2
• Spice
• Skunk
• Moon Rocks
• Mr. Nice Guy
• Black Mamba

Synthetic Marijuana Addiction and Serious Side Effects

Because synthetic cannabinoids are classified as illegal substances, the contents of synthetic marijuana products are unregulated and highly unpredictable. As a result, synthetic cannabis is significantly more dangerous than natural cannabis.

Research has shown that some synthetic cannabinoids can be anywhere from two to 800 times more potent than THC. That extreme variation means every use carries substantial risk; there’s simply no way of telling what potency you’ll experience when you take it. Compared to marijuana users, people who use synthetic marijuana are far more likely to require emergency medical treatment because of severe reactions such as:

• Severe nervousness, worry, and agitation
• Often uncontrollable vomiting
• Suicidal thoughts
• Delusions and hallucinations
• Fast or uneven heart rate
• Higher blood pressure
• Less blood flow to the heart
• Violent behavior
• Kidney injury
• Seizures
• Death

SOURCE: UMass Memorial Health 

Beyond the potential serious side effects, synthetic marijuana usage can lead to synthetic marijuana addiction in time. Due to the makeup of synthetic weed, the drug binds much more strongly to the brain’s cannabinoid receptors than natural THC, increasing the likelihood of both dependence and severe synthetic marijuana withdrawal symptoms.

When you use synthetic marijuana, your brain releases a chemical called dopamine, which signals to you that the activity is pleasurable and rewarding. Consequently, you want to use SC again…and again…and again. Eventually, your brain can develop a tolerance to the steady supply of dopamine released by synthetic weed. This causes the pleasure or “high” you once received to no longer be as strong. Soon, you have to take more of the drug more often to recreate those earlier feel-good effects.

The Root Cause of Addiction

This ongoing, regular usage can eventually lead to synthetic marijuana addiction. Soon, your brain can become chemically dependent on the dopamine that the drug generates. Once this happens, you need to take synthetic marijuana all the time in order to function on a daily basis. You no longer have agency over your drug usage; it’s something you can’t control. 

When you have a synthetic marijuana addiction, your struggles aren’t simply about poor self-discipline, bad decisions, or a lack of willpower. Underneath the surface-level symptoms are often underlying issues driving your addiction. Many addictions are rooted in different types of trauma from the past that remain unresolved. There may also be co-occurring disorders like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder that have contributed to the development of substance abuse and addiction. 

Your unresolved past trauma (especially childhood trauma due to adverse childhood experiences) can negatively impact your emotional regulation skills. As you encounter difficult feelings (associated from your untreated trauma or elsewhere) and stress, it gets easy to seek out substances as a way to cope. Mental health disorders can also drive you to use substances as a way to self-medicate your ongoing symptoms. In order to overcome a synthetic marijuana addiction, you have to heal the underlying root causes responsible for it. Otherwise you run the risk of taking on a cross addiction down the road.

Common Synthetic Marijuana Addiction Symptoms

If you’re concerned about a loved one’s ongoing synthetic marijuana usage, how can you determine if they have an addiction? There are a number of common synthetic marijuana addiction symptoms you can look out for, including:

• The inability to quit or reduce your synthetic marijuana usage
• Experiencing cravings for synthetic weed
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping or reducing use
• Prioritizing synthetic marijuana use over social gatherings, family activities, and favorite hobbies
• Neglecting work, school, or personal responsibilities to use synthetic weed
• Using synthetic marijuana in dangerous or inappropriate situations
• Continued use of the drug despite known negative consequences
• Needing to use more synthetic marijuana to get the same effects
• Using synthetic marijuana for longer than intended
• Confusion, hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia
• Social isolation and withdrawal from others
• Cognitive impairment and poor judgment

Synthetic Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms

A loved one with a synthetic marijuana addiction can’t just quit cold turkey (doing so may even be dangerous). That’s because one of the key symptoms of addiction is synthetic marijuana withdrawal. Even if your loved one wants to quit, the withdrawal symptoms they experience after stopping can cause them to start using again to find relief. The body still thinks synthetic weed is needed to function, so withdrawal can occur as the body adjusts to the drug’s absence. Synthetic marijuana withdrawal symptoms can include:

• Sleep difficulties
• Agitation and irritability
• Depression and suicidal thoughts
• Mood swings
• Restlessness
• Anxiety, nervousness, and panic attacks
• Sweating
• Paranoia
• Appetite loss
• Drug cravings
• Chest pain and irregular or rapid heartbeat
• Psychosis and hallucinations
• Seizures

SOURCE: Alcohol and Drug Foundation

Synthetic Marijuana Addiction Treatment: How to Achieve Lasting Recovery

Long-term healing from synthetic marijuana addiction is possible, but it requires professional treatment. At Integrative Life Center, our drug addiction treatment programs focus on whole-person healing, not just your symptoms. 

Led with trauma-informed care, we address the addiction at its source, including any underlying trauma and co-occurring mental health challenges. We utilize both holistic, experiential therapies with evidence-based treatment to heal the mind, body, and spirit, helping our clients reclaim their authentic selves in the process. If you’re ready for your loved one to experience lasting recovery, call our team today to get started.

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