K2: It Ain’t for You

Just What is K2?

K2 isn't just the name of the world's second highest mountain. (Though it is that.) It isn't just the name of a Serbian sister band, an old Uzbeki airbase or a model of Pentax camera either. (Though it is that too.) No, K2 is the name of a synthetic cannabinoid, and it most definitely ain't for you.

It fact, K2 ain't for anyone. That's why K2 products come labelled "not for human consumption." There's good reason for the warning too. Damn good reason. See, reported negative effects of using K2 include palpitations, paranoia, intense anxiety, nausea, vomiting, confusion, poor coordination, and seizures. There have also been reports of a strong compulsion to re-dose, withdrawal symptoms, and persistent cravings. Worse, there have been several deaths linked to synthetic cannabinoids. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the number of deaths from synthetic cannabinoid use tripled between 2014 and 2015.

No foolin.'

This K2 compound was first created in the mid-1990s in the lab of organic chemist John W. Huffman of Clemson University, who studies cannabinoid receptors. Huffman's not sure how his recipe got picked up, he does recall learning that in China and Korea people were selling the compound as a plant growth stimulant. Then K2 started being used as a recreational drug, probably first somewhere in Europe.

"Apparently somebody picked it up, I think in Europe, on the idea of doping this incense mixture with the compound and smoking it," Huffman told LiveScience. "You can get very high on it. It's about 10 times more active than THC."

THC, of course, is the active ingredient in marijuana. And from a chemist's perspective, that means K2 has an affinity for the cannabinoid brain receptor (CB1) which is about 10 times greater than THC. For the less chemically inclined, it means you can smoke a lot less K2 to get just as high.

And you can easily be brought 10 times lower than any actual marijuana too.

The Horrors of K2

K2 may be fake weed, but it's a very real drug. And the consequences can be just as deadly. If not much, much worse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says multiple state have issued warnings about the dangers of using synthetic cannabinoid products, including Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Maryland. Why? Because they found rat poison in various strains of spice, that's why. And what does rat poison do to the K2 user? Well, it causes severe bleeding. In fact, after smoking or vaping rat poison-laced K2, people were coughing up blood and had to be hospitalized. Two of those people died.

If potentially ingesting rat poison isn't enough to scare you away, then just check these K2 horror stories from Thought Catalog:

I hit this spice, looked around for 15 seconds or so, then proceeded to freak-out and question my sense of reality. Once the spice kicked in, it felt that my entire existence had only ever been smoking spice with my best friend. My family, friends outside of this one, school and everything else in the world felt like it was all a farce and nothing was real besides this endless cycle of getting high on spice over and over again. Fortunately it wore off after a few minutes of panicking, making a scene, and wondering if I should run into traffic to end this nightmare.

Took two hits of Scooby Snax, laughed for about 30 seconds until I passed out, then was non-responsive for at least 45 minutes. Non responsive to nut shots, cold water to the face, people screaming. Felt like I was dead.

First time I tried it I torched a bowl on my own and 30 seconds later I couldn’t walk. So I crawled into the house while my friends had no idea how to handle it. I didn’t pass out, but I was pretty much brain dead for about 25 minutes.

I dont think I've ever read a spice story with a happy ending

Neither have we here at RBC. In fact, we not only haven't read a happy ending spice story, we've not ever heard one either. We have heard the horror stories though. Too many to count. Black Mamba, Scooby Snax, FUB-APINACA, fake weed, spice. Whatever you call it, it's all K2. And it ain't for you.

K2 Addiction Treatment

If you're seeking addiction treatment for K2, any other drugs or alcohol, then call Recovery Boot Camp. RBC effectively treats the affliction of all addictions. And we succeed in our addiction treatment too. No foolin.'