Study: Synthetic Cannabinoid Users Experience ‘More Severe’ Withdrawal Symptoms

A recent study published in the journal Psychopharmacology suggests that users of synthetic cannabinoid products—such as Spice or K2 —experience more severe withdrawal symptoms than cannabis users, according to an International Business Times outline of the research. It is the first study focused on the long-term and withdrawal effects of using synthetic cannabinoids.

The researchers found that the withdrawal effects from synthetic cannabinoids appeared more rapidly than those of cannabis with consumers reporting more severe symptoms of insomnia, irritation and bad mood, heart palpitations, and loss of appetite.

Sam Craft, the study’s main author and a Medical Research Council-funded doctoral candidate said that data demonstrates “that Spice is a significantly more dangerous substance and those seeking to quit are likely to face a range of severe withdrawal symptoms.”