Introduction
Cannabis is the most frequently used substance of abuse in the United States. Increased availability due to legalization efforts and decreased perceptions of harm have been correlated with increasing use. Although smoking cannabis in the form of a cigarette (joint) or in a pipe remains the most common methods of use, adaptation of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) devices to vape e-liquids infused with cannabis extracts has been gaining popularity, particularly with youth and young adults who may vape cannabis oil or wax containing high concentrations of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive constituent of the cannabis plant. This upward trend in vaping cannabis products is likely to continue because almost half of the states in the United States have passed laws that allow legal medicinal and/or recreational use of cannabis. In addition, use of e-cigarettes to deliver synthetic cannabinoids such as AB-CHMINACA (CAS Number 1185887-21-1; sometimes mistakenly called “fake marijuana,” “spice,” or “herbal incense”) in aerosol has been reported. There is no information in the literature about the effects of the AB-CHMINACA pyrolysis products. Behavioural and toxicologic consequences of using these compounds remain sparsely studied. In this article, you can read about heating process and thermal decomposition of substances while smoking.
Because investigation of the effects of uncharacterised synthetic cannabinoids in humans is not possible, much of the research examining the pharmacology of these compounds has been conducted in animals. Yet, despite smoking being the most common route of administration in humans, most preclinical research to date has employed the use of injected THC or other cannabinoids, with only a few exceptions. Some studies have used intravenous administration, which may allow for rapid speed of onset, as is observed after smoking synthetic cannabinoid products; however, most behavioural studies have used intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injections. During metabolism, chemical alterations occur, with some metabolites of synthetic cannabinoids producing different in vivo effects than their parent compounds. In addition, heating or burning synthetic cannabinoids through vaping or smoking may change the chemicals themselves, as can degradation during storage. Animal models using inhalation as a more translationally relevant route of administration may be useful in delineating these factors, which may, in turn, facilitate more accurate predictions of the effects of synthetic cannabinoids in humans.
Because investigation of the effects of uncharacterised synthetic cannabinoids in humans is not possible, much of the research examining the pharmacology of these compounds has been conducted in animals. Yet, despite smoking being the most common route of administration in humans, most preclinical research to date has employed the use of injected THC or other cannabinoids, with only a few exceptions. Some studies have used intravenous administration, which may allow for rapid speed of onset, as is observed after smoking synthetic cannabinoid products; however, most behavioural studies have used intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injections. During metabolism, chemical alterations occur, with some metabolites of synthetic cannabinoids producing different in vivo effects than their parent compounds. In addition, heating or burning synthetic cannabinoids through vaping or smoking may change the chemicals themselves, as can degradation during storage. Animal models using inhalation as a more translationally relevant route of administration may be useful in delineating these factors, which may, in turn, facilitate more accurate predictions of the effects of synthetic cannabinoids in humans.
Thermal degradation breakdown of AB-CHMINACA to its proposed observed pyrolytic products
Researchers chose to examine the effects of selected synthetic cannabinoids (CP 55,940, AB-CHMINACA, XLR-11, and JWH-018) that had higher affinity and, in some cases, higher potency compared with THC. AB-CHMINACA, XLR-11, and JWH-018 have been reported to be present in “fake marijuana” products. The ability to employ inhalation is important for cannabinoid research for several reasons: (1) state-level legalization of recreational and medicinal marijuana has increased potential exposure, (2) greater equivalence in route of administration between humans and in preclinical models may enhance translational relevance of results, and (3) some of the toxicological or other health effects (pulmonary) of drug abuse are likely to be specific to inhalation and may not be detected in studies using other routes of administration.
Predicted metabolites of AB-CHMINACA. Metabolites are generated from four predicted metabolic transformations – (1) hydroxylation of cyclohexyl ring, (2) hydrolysis of terminal amide, (3) hydrolysis of internal amide and (4) hydroxylation/oxidation of isopropyl group. The abbreviations refer to the numbering of the predicted metabolites (M) which was done in chronological order (M1 and M2).
Conclusion
In summary, synthetic cannabinoids that were originally developed as research tools or as candidate medications have been diverted to drugs of abuse in the form of products labeled with such terms as “herbal incense,” “fake weed,” “spice,” and “K2.” AB-CHMINACA, AB-PINACA, and FUBIMINA. The results of the present study demonstrate that the pharmacological effects of AB-CHMINACA, AB-PINACA and FUBIMINA overlap with those of psychoactive cannabinoids from different chemical classes, including Δ9-THC, JWH-018, CP47,497, and WIN55,212-2. Each of these three compounds binds to and activates CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, produces a characteristic tetrad of cannabimimetic effects in mice, and produces dose dependent increases in responding on the Δ9-THC-associated aperture in Δ9-THC discrimination.
A primary difference among the compounds is their potency, with rank order of potency being correlated with their CB1 receptor binding affinities: FUBIMINA < Δ9-THC < AB-PINACA < AB-CHMINACA. Notably, all three of these compounds are high efficacy agonists in the [35S]GTPγS binding assay, as compared to the low partial agonism of Δ9-THC. Ironically, AB-PINACA and AB-CHMINACA are of potential interest to the scientific community as research tools due to their unique chemical structures and their high CB1 receptor efficacies (i.e., >CP55,940).
When you are using AB-CHMINACA, you have to consider its potent effect. Also take into account the fact that the products of pyrolysis and its metabolism in the body can be detected in urine and blood. This may be important for those people who regularly undergo medical examinations for drugs.
A primary difference among the compounds is their potency, with rank order of potency being correlated with their CB1 receptor binding affinities: FUBIMINA < Δ9-THC < AB-PINACA < AB-CHMINACA. Notably, all three of these compounds are high efficacy agonists in the [35S]GTPγS binding assay, as compared to the low partial agonism of Δ9-THC. Ironically, AB-PINACA and AB-CHMINACA are of potential interest to the scientific community as research tools due to their unique chemical structures and their high CB1 receptor efficacies (i.e., >CP55,940).
When you are using AB-CHMINACA, you have to consider its potent effect. Also take into account the fact that the products of pyrolysis and its metabolism in the body can be detected in urine and blood. This may be important for those people who regularly undergo medical examinations for drugs.
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