1. Barely Legal: Dangerous Substances Under the Regulatory Radar
MICHAEL NERNEY and ASSOCIATES
P.O. Box 93
Long Lake, NY
(518)

2. Context Legal Issues Federal Analogue Act It’s About the Money
21 U.S.C Sect. 813 of the United States Controlled Substances Act, allows any chemical “substantially similar” to an illegal drug (Schedule I or II) to be treated as a Schedule I. Must be intended for human consumption.
It’s About the Money
Packaging Comments
Not for human consumption
Not for sale in the US
Not to be sold to persons under 18

3. Historical Perspective
Not new development
More than 100 years
Synthesis
Extraction and synthesis since the 1850’s
Aspirin, morphine, cocaine, caffeine, nicotine
Semi-synthetics
Heroin
Analogues
A new form of designer drug
1960’s and 70’s hundreds of new drugs
80’s and 90’s new analogues each year
Tango and Cash, China White

4. The Adolescent Brain Factor
Emotional Intensity
Ages 11 – 24 years
Amygdala
Hormones
Larger and more active
2 to 4 times

5. The Adolescent Brain Factor, con’t.
Risk Taking and Peers
Change at 13 years old
New sites appear in brain
Emotional reward for risk taking
Peer influence

6. Brain Factor, con’t. Social Media Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube
Instant information
Personal communication
Possibly anonymous
Nearly every young person has access

7. The Products: Marijuana Synthetics
Cannabinoids
3 experimental strands:
JWH-073, JWH-018, 200, 250
CP 47, CP 80
HU-210
Clemson University
John W. Huffman

8. Marijuana synthetics: Research Application
Animal Studies
Medical Use of Cannabinoids
Pain management
Appetite regulation
No human clinical trials
Tested on primates and rodents

9. Marijuana synthetics: Diverted to the Public
K2, Spice, Blond, Standard, Spice Gold, Zohai, Genie
3-4 years under radar
2009 testing showed few herbal compounds
New synthetic cannabinoids discovered
(knockoff)

10. Marijuana synthetics: Legal Status
Not legal in NYS
Distribution
Possession

11. Marijuana synthetics: Effects
Physical
Rapid onset
Dilated pupils
Time distortion
Speech may be confused and non-responsive

12. Marijuana synthetics: Effects, con’t
Social/Emotional
Bouts of laughter
Interference with color and sound

13. Marijuana synthetics: Effects, con’t
Behavioral
Increased appetite
Cognitive deficiencies
In vulnerable individuals:
May lead to psychosis
May deepen depression

14. Marijuana synthetics: significant risks
Addiction
Anandamide influence
High potency – more activity in CB1 and CB2 sites
May lead to dependency and addiction
Tolerance
Withdrawal
Compulsion
Loss of Control
Continued Use Despite Consequences

15. Marijuana synthetics: significant risks, cont
Non-responsive
High dose – no divided attention
Operation of any moving vehicle
Not attentive to environmental risks
Cognitive impact
Measurable impact on memory and learning
Potential paranoia and/or psychotic break
Testing
Requires specialized and sophisticated drug testing

16. Marijuana substitutes
Wicked X, Posh, Dank, K2 Compliant, Shakabuku, Kush, Bombay Blue, Aztec Gold
“Not for human consumption”
Sold as potpourri or aromatherapy
Discreet shipping
Blend of herbal compounds may include:
Canavalia rosea, Clematis vitalba, Nelumbo nucifera,
Pedicularis grandifolia, Heimia salicifolia,
Leonurus sibiricus and Ledum palustre,
Damiana, Lavender, Baybean, Yerba Mate

17. Marijuana substitutes: Legal Status
Legal in many states
Available on reservation
Expensive product for mild high

18. Marijuana substitutes: effects
Physical
Mild mental stimulation
Body relaxation
Social/Emotional
Relaxation
Laughter
Behavioral
Disconnected

19. Marijuana substitutes: risks
Lung function
Joints, blunts, pipes, bongs
Vaporizers
Unknown herbal products
Damiana
Yerba Mate
Loaded Blunts
Herbals plus smokable:
Marijuana
Heroin
Cocaine
Methamphetamine
Ketamine

20. Salvia divinorum Diviner’s Sage Legal Status
Source – Mexico/Florida Sun Pharm
Potency ratings
5x, 10x, 15x, 20x, 30x
Salvinorin A
Extract available
Psychoactive compound

21. Salvia divinorum: effects
Physical
Mild to moderate stimulation
5-10 minute duration
Uncoordinated
Social/Emotional
Tactile, auditory and visual hallucinations
Extended bouts of laughter
Confusion and fearfulness

22. Salvia divinorum: effects, cont.
Behavioral
Restless
Non-responsive
No impulse control
At risk when unsupervised
Motor control
Depth perception

23. Salvia divinorum: Risks and testing
YouTube – Salvia Bad Trips
Highly unpredictable
Random rapid movements
Injury to self or others
Non-responsive to intervention
Fatal accidents and falls
Testing is limited

24. Bath salts Vanilla Skye, Red Dove, Blue Silk, Ocean Burst
Not for Human Consumption
Smoked, snorted, oral
Injected

25. Bath salts, cont Contents: Mephedrone MDPV TFMPP Plant food
Similar to amphetamine
MDPV
Similar to Ritalin
Party enhancer
Mimics ecstasy
TFMPP
Hallucinogenic
Less powerful

26. Bath salts: effects Physical Social/Emotional Behavioral
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Stimulant, high energy
Restlessness
Decreased appetite
Impaired sleep
Social/Emotional
Euphoria
Excitement
Alertness
Increased sexuality
Behavioral
Manic
Repetitive behaviors

27. Bath salts: risks Unpredictable Agitation and fearfulness
Sleep deficits
Aggressive paranoia
Psychosis
Seizures
Coma
Suicidal ideation

28. Bath salts: legal status and testing
Illegal to distribute or possess
Except for TFMPP
2C-I
Testing is specialized

29. Alcohol: new products
Alcohol treats
Pocket Shots

30. Alcohol: new products, cont.
Malt Beverages
Malt brewed beer
Sugars
Flavors
20 – 24 ounces
7 – 13% alcohol

31. Alcohol: Route of administration
Oral
Mucous membranes
Inhalation

32. Alcohol: Other products
Hand Sanitizer
Infused Marijuana

33. Alcohol and Caffeine mix.
Impact on Brain
Two systems activated
Stimulatory – caffeine
Biphasic – alcohol
Harvard University study
“Wide Awake Drunk”

34. Alcohol and caffeine: Risk factors
Physical
Energized
Uncoordinated
30% drop in glucose uptake in motor cortex
30% drop in glucose uptake in visual cortex
Slower reaction time

35. Alcohol and caffeine: Risk factors, cont.
Behavioral
Sense of competence
Aggressive social interactions
Twice as likely to suffer physical injury
Twice as likely to get in fights
Twice as likely to be either a victim or a perpetrator of sexual assault

36. Alcohol and caffeine: Risk factors
High risk when operating any moving vehicle
Auto/motorcycle
32% of all crashes alcohol-related
Boat
60% of fatalities alcohol-related
Bike/skateboard
High risk:
Swimming
Heights
Parties

37. Alcohol and over-the-counter drugs
Robo-shots
Dextromethorphan
Opioid cough suppressant
Plus alcohol
Rapid and powerful intoxication
Motor control
Impulse control
Delusional

38. Alcohol and prescription pain medications
Oxycontin
Vicodin
Roxanol
Opana

39. Alcohol and heroin Pain Medication Street Drug
Routes of Administration

40. RISK FACTORS
Addiction
Infection
Overdose

41. Empathogens Molly MDMA Mollylicious PMMA MDMA Methamphetamine Caffeine
Methylsulfonylmethane
Safrole 7 6 5 2 1
May 26, 2012

42. Empathogens
2c-I Smiles
Several Fatal Events

43. From the kitchen
Nutmeg
Long lasting
Side effects
Hallucinogenic

44. hallucinogens
DMT
Dimethyltriptamine
Businessman's Lunch

45. Wrap up Substantial uncertainty regarding actual ingredients
Possible contaminants and/or toxins
No accurate measurement of potency
Unpredictable response
No human trials
No information regarding long-term health consequences