PART ONE
Sources: Sparta Independent; National Institutes of Health, Johns Hopkins University, U.S. Centers of Disease Control, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
New Jersey and New York banned synthetic marijuana in 2012. But producers get around the rules by making slightly different products, slickly designed to appeal to youth, says Tina Aue, director of prevention services at the Center for Prevention & Counseling in Newton, N.J.
Cannabis — All products derived from the plant cannabis sativa.
Marijuana — All products from the plant cannabis sativa that contain substantial amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the substance that alters a user’s mental state.
Hemp — Cannabis plants that contain very little THC are considered “industrial hemp” under U.S. law.
Vaping — Vaping devices deliver the active ingredients in a drug, like THC or nicotine, by heating liquid-filled cartridges.
Synthetic marijuana — A lab-manufactured drug that mimics the effects of marijuana but is chemically unrelated and exponentially more dangerous. They bind to the same cannabinoid receptors in the brain as marijuana, and can cause organ damage, convulsions, hallucinations, and death. These drugs are sold over the internet and in vape shops and gas stations.
Delta-8 — A type of synthetic marijuana whose psychoactive component is derived from CBD extracted from legal hemp, which makes it legal for use by those over 18.
Suboxone — A narcotic used to treat opioid addiction.
Opioids — A class of highly addictive drugs, which includes the illicit drug heroin and the prescription pain reliever oxycodone, that are naturally found in the opium poppy plant.
Fentanyl — A synthetic opioid, originally developed to manage the pain of cancer patients, that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine.
Narcan — An antidote used to treat opioid overdoses.
Edibles — An edible product, like candies, containing THC.
CBD (cannabidiol) — Along with THC, CBD is one of 80 biologically active chemical compounds found in the cannabis sativa plant. Though interest has been seen around CBD and its potential related to health benefits, some CBD products are being marketed with unproven medical claims and are of unknown quality.
Bath salts — Synthetic cathinones, a class of drugs that have one or more laboratory-made chemicals similar to amphetamines, such as methamphetamine, and to MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly). They are usually a white or brown crystal-like powder and are sold in small plastic or foil packages labeled “Not for human consumption.”