Semi-synthetic cannabinoids: A potent concern

Semi-synthetic cannabinoids: A potent concern Semi-synthetic cannabinoids have recently emerged as ‘lighter’ or ‘legal’ alternatives to cannabis, but they may be equally potent and equally risky, younger cousins. The sale of semi-synthetic cannabinoids (SSCs) began in the US in 2019, where they were marketed as ‘legal’ alternatives to cannabis. Since then, 18 different SSCs have been reported across North and South America, as well as the EU(1), where they arrived in 2022 and quickly spread(2). SSCs include popular compounds like Δ8-THC and HHC, commonly sold in vapes and edibles. These products have drawn significant attention in various media forums(3–5), but what exactly are SSCs? Why should we pay attention to SSCs? And how should we deal with SSCs?