PSYC1022-PsychologyofAddictionLECTURE1+2-ORIGINSANDMANUFACTUREOFDRUGSDRUGCLASSIFICATIONS• Drugscanbeusedclassifiedinmanyways:

- Licit-Legal- Illicit-Illegal- BasedontheireffectontheCentralNervousSystem(CNS).

• Onemethodinvolvesclassificationbasedonthedrug’sCNSeffects1. Depressants:SlowdownCNSactivity2. Stimulants:SpeedupCNSactivity3. Hallucinogens:Altersensoryperceptions(psychotogenic)byinterferingwithCNS

signalling4. Other:Substancesthatfitintoseveralcategoriesastherearedifferentexperiences

acrossindividuals.Also,includesdrugsthathavemorethanoneeffectonthebodyandCNS.

DEPRESSANTS:ALCOHOLcontainingliquidcanbesimplycreatedbyleavingfruitinacontainerforsomeperiodoftime.Consumeliquidtoexperiencethedrugs’effect.• Ithasbeenconjectedthatalcoholwasconsumedby

Palaeolithichumansmayhaveconsumedalcoholbutthereislittledirectevidence.

• ThefirstdirectevidenceofalcoholproductioncomesfromanarchaeologicalsiteinJehu,Chinawherepotsdatingfrom7000-5800BC(Neolithicperiod)werefoundtofindtheresidueofanalcoholicliquidmadefromfermentedrice,honey&hawthorn.

• “ChateauJiahu”whichhasbeenreverseengineeredfrommoleculararchaeology.Alcoholmadefromriceflakes,wildflowerhoney,Muscatgrapes,hawthornfruitwithbarleymalt&fermentedwithasakeyeast.

• 4100BC:Areni-1Cave,Armenia-oneoftheearliestknownsitesofwineproduction.• Thepresssitsinsidethecaveandisslanteddownwardstowardsthemouthofalargejarinsertedintheplatform'sedgetocatchthecrushedgrapejuice.ThissamedesignofwinepresswascommonthroughouttheMediterraneantill1900.

• Today,alcoholisgloballyavailable.• Accordingtoreportin2014fromWHO:

- Worldwideconsumptionis6.2Lofpurealcoholperpersonabove15yearsold.- Highertheeconomicwealthofacountrythehighertheconsumptionofalcohol.- HighestratesinEurope,RussianFederation,Australia,Canada- Unrecorded(i.e.home-brewedliquor)isthoughttoaccountforalmost25%of

worldwideconsumption- 3.3milliondeathsworldwideareattributabletoalcoholconsumption

OPIUMisderivedfromthesapoftheopiumpoppyseedhead,whichisreleasedfollowingtissuedamageandactsasananti-herbivorechemical.• Greatcareistakentochoosethetimeformakingincisionsintothepoppyseeheadso

neitherrain,windanddewcanspoilthesap,soweatherconsiderationsareimportantforchoosingwhentomakeincisions.Sapisthencollectedandtheopiumbrickisthentypicallysoldbythefarmertothebroker.

• Inancienttimes,opiumwastheendproductbutmorerecently,brokerssupplytheopiumtorefineswhoconvertitintoamoretransportablemorphinebrickorheroinepowder.

• Selectivebreedinghasyieldedanopiumpoppythathassubstantiallyhigherconcentrationsofopioidsthanthewildvariant.Mostcommonlygrowntoday.

• OpiumwasusedthroughoutbroadlythroughoutEurope,Asia,MiddleEast&NorthAfricaduringtheNeolithicage(10,000-2000BC).Therearenumerousarchaeologicalsitesofopiumpoppyseedpodsburiedinaritualorsacredcontext.ForExample:

- 4200BCBrittany,France-ceramicbowlsfoundinasacredsite

- SouthernSpain-globularglassbagsofopiumcapsulesfoundinaburialsite

Numerousmajorearliercivilisationshavealsoleftwrittenrecordsofopiumuse:• 1500BC:TheEbersPapyrus

- isbelievedtohavebeencopiedfromearliertexts(Circa3400BC)- foundbetweenthelegsofamummyinatombnearLuxor,Egypt- 1872:PurchasedbyProfessorEbers- Thepapyrusdescribesamixtureofopiumandanothermaterialwhichwasfound

effectiveinquieteningcryingchildren.- sometimeagochildreninEgypt,IndiaandEuropewerebeingsoothedwithopium.

Itissaidthatmothersoftenlacedtheirnippleswithpoppyjuicesothatthechildwouldimmediatelystopcryinguponsuckingthe‘drugged’milk.

• 1332-1323BC:CultivationandtradeofopiumwasinfulloperationduringthereignofKingTutankhamun-contributedsignificantlytothewealthoftheEgyptianpharaohs.

• 700BC:Homer’s‘TheOdyssey’- Opiumrecreationalusedescribed:Telemachusisdepressedafterfailingtofindhis

fatherOdysseus.ButthenHelen,“...hadahappythought.Intothebowlinwhichtheirwinewasmixed,sheslippedadrugthathadthepowerofrobbinggriefandangeroftheirstingandbanishingallpainfulmemories.Noonewhoswallowedthisdissolvedintheirwinecouldshedasingletearthatday,evenforthedeathofhismotherorfather,oriftheyputhisbrotherorhisownsontotheswordandheweretheretoseeitdone..."

- Opium’sabilitytoridthebodyofpainandgivethebodyanintensefeelingofeuphoria–thisiswhatmakesheroinesoaddictive.

MORPHINEwasisolatedbytheGermanpharmacist,FriedrichSertürnerin1803.SertürnernameditafterMorphius,theGreekGodofdreams.• Morphinecrystalswereaddedtofoodtokillunwantedratsanddogsinthetown.He

observedintheseanimalsthatmorphineevokedsleepandeventuallydeath.• Hesufferedfromgoutinhislaterlife&quelledhispainwiththeverymorphinehehad

isolated.• Thealkaloidmorphineisgenerally8to14%ofthedryweightofopium.• Sertürner’sMorphineextractionmethodstillusedinillicitlabs.• Ittakesafulldaytoextract‘pure’morphinefromopium.

LAUDANUM• 1493-1541:Paracelsus,aSwiss-Germanoccultistdiscoveredthatopiumcouldbe

betterdissolvedintoasolutionofalcoholthanwater.- HenamedthatsolutionLaudanum(AKAtinctureofopium)- Headdedavarietyofingredientssuchasgarlic&frogspawn- Althoughusefulforpainreduction,thecompoundwaslargelyignored.

• 1624-1689:ThomasSydenham,Englishphysicianproduced&promotedhisownLaudanumrecipewhichcouldbeusedasacureforarangeofmedicalconditions.Hisrecipeincluded:1PtCanaryIslandwine,2Ozstrainedopium,1Ozsaffron.

• 1837-1901:usecontinuedinVictorianEngland&USA• especiallybywomen• Laudanumremainsavailablebyprescriptioninthesecountriesalthoughtherapeutic

applicationsaregenerallyrestrictedtopainrelief&alleviatingwithdrawalsymptomsinbabiesborntoheroinoropiateaddictedmothers

• 1910onwards:increasinglyrestrictivelawsestablishedwhichregulatedtheproductionandsaleofaddictivecompoundsincludingLaudanum.

CODEINEisanalkaloid(likemorphine)presentinmorphineataconcentrationofabout1-3%.• 1821:PierreRobiquet(Frenchchemist)isolatedfrommorphineusingtheprocessof

Omethylation(substitutionofanatombyamethylgroup.• Itisthemostwidelyusedopiateintheworldandhasanexcellentsafetyrecord• Itisusedasananalgesic(pain),antitussive(coughing),antidiarrheal,antihypertensive

(bloodpressure),antianxiety,sedative,tosuppressprematurelaborcontractionsandmyocardialinfarction(heartattack).

• Itdoeshaveaddictivepotentialbutislesspotentthanmorphineorheroin.HEROIN(diacetylmorphine):firstsynthesisedbyEnglishchemist,CharlesWrightin1874.• Heaccidentlyboiledmorphineandaceticacid,overastoveforseveralhours.This

processofacetylationintroducesanacetylgroupintothecompound.• Themoderntechniqueofproducingheroineentailsacomplicatedseriesofstepsina

goodlaboratory:1. equalquantitiesofmorphineandaceticacidareheatedinaglassorenamel-lined

containerforsixhoursat85C.Themorphineandtheacidcombinetoformimpurediacetylmorphine.

2. waterandchloroformareaddedtothesolutiontoprecipitateimpurities.Thesolutionisdrained&sodiumcarbonateaddedtomaketheheroinsolidifyandsink.

3. heroinisfilteredoutofthesodiumcarbonatesolutionwithactivatedcharcoalandpurifiedwithalcohol.Thissolutionisgentlyheatedtoevaporatethealcoholandleaveheroin,whichmaybepurifiedfurther.

4. Purificationinthefourthstage,involvingetherandhydrochloricacid,isnotoriouslyriskyasthevolatileethergasmayignite&produceaviolentexplosion.Thefinalproductisafluffy,whitepowderknowninthetradeasnumberfour(pure)heroin.

• 1898:FelixHoffman,Germanphysicistdiscoveredthesameprocess23yearslater.• HeworkedatBayer&discoveredaspirinbysubjectingsalicylicacidtothesame

acetylationprocessthatCharlesWrighthadappliedtomorphine.• Hoffmannreplicatedthisprocedure&namedtheresultingdiacetylmorphine,heroin,

inreferencetoitsheroiceffects• Bayermarketedheroinasaneffectivesedativeforcoughs,likemorphine,butwithout

theaddictivepotential• Salesrocketedandwidespreaddependencefollowed• In1913,Bayerceasedproductionwiththeintroductionofwidespreadlegislationto

controltheproductionandsaleofsuchcompounds.

STIMULANTS:TABACCO(Nicotine)wassmokedbytribesacrosstheAmericas.ItwasdiscoveredbyChristopherColumbusin12October1492,whenhelandedinSanSalvidorIslandintheBahamas.Scoutsreportedtribespeoplesmoking“half-burnedwoodintheirhands.”

• In1492:RodrigodeJerezwasknowntobethefirstEuropeansmoker.InNovember1942,heobservedtheSanSalvidornativessmokingandpickedupthehabit,whichhethenintroducedtohisfriendsinhishometown,Ayamonte,Spain.TheSpanishInquisitionimprisonedhimforhis“sinfulandinfernalhabits.”Hewasreleased7yearslaterwhensmokinghadcaughton.

• 1523:TobaccomerchantofLisbonofficiallydocumented-showinghowquicklythetradeoftobaccoleafhadbeenestablished.

• 1604:StuartKingJamesIdenouncedtobaccouseas“harmfultothebrain,dangeroustothelungs.”

• 1604:Englishintroduceheavytariffsontobaccoimportsbeginningtheperversefinancialrelationshipbetweenthestateandtobaccomerchants.

• 1609:CommercialproductionbeganinJamestown,VirginiafromtobaccoimportedfromBermuda

• Until1883:Tobaccoexcisetaxaccountedforone-thirdoftheinternalrevenuecollectedbytheUSgovernment.

• In1962,Britain’sRoyalCollegeofPhysicians:Publishedcausallinkbetweensmoking&lungcancer,bronchitisandcardiovasculardisease

• Itisnowbroadlyrecognisedbygovernmentsthatquitsmokinginterventionsyieldsubstantiallongtermprofitsresultingfromreducedhealthcareexpenditure&moreproductiveeconomicactivity.Thus,theshort-termreductionintaxrevenuesaremorethancompensatedforbylongtermprofits.Thiseconomicargumentunderpinsdevelopedcounties’sustainedpoliciesforreducingsmoking

• Nicotineconstitutesapprox.0.6-3%ofthedryweightoftobaccoleafwithbiosynthesisthattakesplaceintherootsandaccumulatesintheleaves.

• Nicotinefunctionsasananti-herbivorechemical.Itisapotentneurotoxin,particularlytoinsects.E.g.applicationofnicotinetoplantmaterialrepelstheWesternFlowerThrip(amongstothers).

• Nicotinederivativecompoundswidelyusedaspesticidesinagriculturetoreduceplantdamage

COCAINEisanalkaloid(likenicotineandtheopiatealkaloids).Itisderivedfromtheleavesofthecocaplantandactsasananti-herbivorechemical.CocainegrownaturallyinabundanceinSouthAmerica.• Paleobotanicalevidence,aswellasarchaeologicalartefactsindicatethatCocaleaves

wereconsumedbynativesofVenezuela,Colombia,Ecuador,Peru,Bolivia&NorthArgentina.Theseregionsareareaswheretheplantgrowsnaturallyinabundance.

• Evidenceincludes:• 1000BC:MummiesfoundinNorthernChileshowedthepresenceofcocaine• 6000BC:Evidenceofcocaleaf&limeproduction&distributioninNanchocValley,

Peru• Teainfusions(oftenwithanalkalinesubstancesuchaslimetohelpreleasethe

psychoactivealkaloids)orchewedleaveswereconsumedbySouthAmericannatives.ThisisstilllegalinPeruandBoliviaandiswidelypracticedbynativesinotherSouthAmericancountriesdespiteprohibition

• 1500s:SpanishconquistadorslandedinSouthAmericawheretheyinitiallydismissedcocaleafconsumptionasthe‘Devilswork’butsooncametocommercialise&taxits

distributionwhentheydiscoveredthattheenslavednativepopulationworkedharderunderitsinfluence.

• ItwasintroducedinSpainbythe1600sbutdidnotbecomepopularuntiltheItalianneurologist,PaoloMantegazza,publishedareportin1858whichhighlightedthecognitiveenhancingeffectsofcocaleafinfusions.Thisledtoseveralcommercialwineproductscontainingcocainfusions.

• TheUSstateofGeorgiaintroducedalcoholprohibitionsin1886.JohnPemberton,USPharmacist,developedanon-alcoholicrecipewithsweetsyrup&cocainfusion,knownasCoca-Cola.

• 1904:CocaineisextractedfromtheCoca-Colarecipefollowingtheprohibitionofcocaine.

• Thecocainealkaloidwasfirstisolatedin1855byGermanchemist,FriedrakeGaedckewhonamedit“erythroxyline.”

• In1860,AlbertNiemannpublishedhisPhDthesisinwhichhedescribedabetterextractionprocess,whichisthebasisofthecontemporarytechnique.Hedescribeditsanaestheticeffects,whichisreductionintouchsensation,andnameditcocaine.

• 3stepsofNiemann’stechniqueareusedbySouthAmericandrugcartelsforillicitproduction:1. Cocapaste:Placemaceratedleavesina55-gallondrum&coverwithwater.Add

kerosene(asolvent)&mixvigorouslybyhandorplaceinwashingmachineorcementmixertodissolvethewaterinsolublecocainealkaloid,thenfilteroffleafwaste&retainthesolution.Adddilutesulfuricacidtoturnthecocaineintowatersolublecocainesulfate,thenaddlimetoprecipitatecocapasteasayellowsolid.Remove&packagethepaste.

2. Cokebase:Dissolvecocapasteindilutesulfuricacid.Carefullyaddtheoxidizingagentpotassiumpermanganateandstirvigorouslytoprecipitateremainingimpuritiesasablacksludgeleavingoverlyingsolutionclear.Filter&addammoniatoprecipitatepurecokebase.

3. Cocainehydrochloride:Dissolvecokebaseindiethylethertoprecipitateremainingimpurities.Filtersolutionandstirinanequalvolumeofacetone&hydrochloricacidwhichimmediatelyprecipitatescocainehydrochlorideasshinywhite,flakycrystals.Filter&dryunderheat-lampsand/ormicrowaveovens,press,package&ship.

TypesofCocaine:• CocaineHydrochloride:isinjected,snortedortakenorally.Itisnotsmokedbecauseit

willnotvaporizeuntilabout197°C.Thisburns&destroysthealkaloidgivingaweakhighplusafoultaste.

• FreebaseCocaine:ismadebydissolvingcocainehydrochlorideinwater,diethyletherandammonia,thenextractingtheprecipitate.Freebasevaporisesat98oC,soitcanbesmoked,givingthisformafasterhigh.However,diethyletherishighlyflammableinproduction&residualammoniaisdamagingtothelungs.

• CrackCocaine:devisedtoenablesmokingwithouttheproblemsofafreebase.Crackismadebydissolvingcocainehydrochlorideinwaterandsodiumbicarbonate(bakingpowder)toformthecrystallisedprecipitate.Itcrackleswhensmokedgivingitsname.thisisapotentlyaddictivesubstance.

AMPHETAMINEderivedfromtheplantEphedrawhichgrowsthroughouttheworld.•ThisplanthaslongbeenusedinChinesemedicineforthetreatmentofasthma,hayfever&colds.• 1885:Japaneseorganicchemist,NagaiNagayoshiextractedthesympathomimetic

amine,ephedrine,fromephedra.Itwasusedasadecongestant(clearblockednose)&tostopasthmaattacks(preferabletoaninjectionofadrenalinusedatthetime).

• 1887:AmphetaminewasfirstsynthesizedbyRomanianchemistLazărEdeleanu,inanattempttomakeasyntheticephedrine,butitwaslargelyignored.Namedphenylisopropylaminebecausethestartingcompoundwasphenyl-2-propanone(P2P)ratherthanplantderivedephedrine.ThisisbecauseamphetamineisweakerwhenmadefromtheprecursorephedrinethanfromP2P

• Inthe1920s,therewasashortageofephedrineduetoacivilwarinChina,asaresult,in1927,theallergist,GordonAlles,resynthesizedamphetamine.

• In1933,pharmaceuticalcompanySmith,Kline&FrenchreleasedamphetamineinaninhalerunderthetradenameBenzedrine,asadecongestantforblockednose&asthma. StudiesofBenzedrinefollowedwhereuponitsmoodenhancing&energisingpropertiesbecameincreasinglyapparent.

• Benzedrine&amphetaminetabletswerewidelyusedinWorldWarIItoincreasealertness,especiallyamongstlongrangebomberpilots.Butitbecameincreasinglyclearthatperformanceenhancingeffectswerelargelyinthemindoftheusers,whereasobjectively,theirperformancewasimpaired,despiteanelevationinmood.Thiscombinedwiththeaddictivepropertiesledamphetaminetobeusedlessasthewarcontinued.

• DuringtheHippieerainthe1960s,therewasanepidemicofamphetamineuse.Thisgaverisetomoralpanic,raisingtheproblemofdrugaddictiongenerallyupthepoliticalagenda.NenzedrineinhalerswerebannedandtheregulationofprescriptionamphetaminecameintoforceinboththeUSandtheUKattheendofthatera(1970s)

METHAMPHETAMINE• Nagayoshiextractedephedrinefromephedraplantin1885.Hisfurtherresearchinto

chemicalmanipulationofephedrineledtothecreationofmeth(powderedform).• DevelopmentofthecrystallineformofmethamphetaminewasdevelopedbyAkira

Ogatain1919.Methamphetamineissimplertoproducecomparedtoamphetamine.IthasasimilarchemicalstructuretoamphetaminewiththeadditionofamethylgroupwhichallowsittobemoreeasilyabsorbedintotheCNS.

• 1939-1945:- duringWWIIGermanymanufactured&distributedmorethan35milliontabletsof

methwhichcontributedtotherapidinvasionofEuropeAKABlitzkergor“lightningwar”,buttheyhaltedproductionduring1941followingrecognitionofitsdangerouspotential.

- Japaneseprovidedmeththroughoutthewar,particularlytoKamikazepilots- Civilianmethabusemultipliedbytheendofthewarwhenmilitarysupplieswere

openedforsaletotheJapanesepublic.OTHER:Thesedrugshavemixed/combinedeffectsontheCNS

MDMA(3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine)isclassifiedbytheNSWHealthassubstanceinthe“Other”.MDMAisclassifiedasbothastimulantandahallucinogen.• Oftenclassedwithinthe‘amphetamine’groupinsomeclassificationsystemsthus,it

hasaStimulantclassification.However,ithasagreaterempathogeniceffectthangeneralstimulants(increasedempathyorloveofothers,thusstreetname“Ecstasy”).ItisalsoclassifiedasaHallucinogen-Differentexperiencesacrossindividuals(hence“Other”classification)

• PrimaryprecursorisSafrole,alightoilyliquidextractedfromtheroot-barkorthefruitofthesassafrastree.TherearenumerouspublishedmethodsforsynthesisingsafroleintoMDMA.

• Itwasfirstsynthesisedin1912bytheGermanchemistAntonKöllischwhoworkedfor

thepharmaceuticalcompanycalledMerck.TheaimforKöllisch wastodevelopahaemostaticsubstancetostopabnormalbleeding.

• Followingsynthesisin1912itlaydormantinMerck’slibraryfor65years.Itsdevelopmentintoastreetdrugfollowedthistimeline:

• 1927:MerckscientistMaxOberlinreportsMDMA’ssimilaritytoephedrine(precursorofmeth/amphetamine).

• 1953:USmilitarycommissionsstudieswitharangeofpsychoactivecompoundsincludingMDMA(declassifiedin1973).

• 1958:independentsynthesisofthesamecompoundinJapanbyYutakaKasuya.•1970:FirstreportofrecreationalMDMAuseintheUS.

• 1970s:PharmacistAlexanderShulginsynthesizesMDMApublishesreportsofitsmoodenhancingeffects&improvementoftherapeuticengagement.

• 1980s:MDMAbecomesincreasinglypopularindance/raveculture.• 1985s:Stateprohibitionofthecompoundisintroduced.• 2010s:MDMAusagedecreasingduetoscarcityofprecursorchemical(safrole)dueto

substitutionbysocalled‘designer’drugs(e.g.mephedrone,BZP,MDPV,methylone)whichhavebeenrediscoveredbyillicitdrugchemistsfromarchaicacademicdocumentstosidestepprohibitivelawsagainstofexistingdrugs.

CANNABISplantisbelievedtohaveoriginatedinthemountainousregionsnorthwestoftheHimalayas.• Twokeyverities:

- Sativa:greaterfibrecontentandtherefore,usefulformakingwovenmaterialandhasahigherpsychotomimeticeffect.

- Indica:hasalowerfibrecontentandtherefore,lowpsychotomimeticeffect• Itisthoughtthatthesetwovarietieswereseparatedfromthewildtype(whichhas

intermediateproperties)throughselectivebreedingimposedbyearliergenerationsofthenativepopulationwhomadeuseoftheplantsforintoxication,clothes,nets,ropeandstring

• Directevidencefortheearliestcannabisconsumptionfordrug/ritualeffectcomesfromapreservedburialsiteinTurpan,North-WestChinadatingaroundCirca1000BC.- The‘shaman’hasonhisperson789g

ofcannabis.- Thissiteisespeciallyimportant

becauseitistheearliestrecordedsiteinwhichresearcherswereabletoconclusivelydemonstratethepresenceofTHC(thepsychoactivecomponentofcannabis)

• Earlierancienttextsrefertothemedicinal/intoxicant/spiritualeffectsofcannabis:- 2700BC:ChineseherbalmedicinethePênts'aoChing- 2000BC:religious/philosophicaltexttheHinduVedas.- LaterreferencestocannabisinJapanese,WestAsian,MiddleEastern,North

African,Roman&Germanictextschartthespreadofcannabisuseacrosstheancientworldfollowingthetraderoutesofthesteppehighway/silkroad-thechainofexchangethatthenlinkedtheeastandwest.

UNODC,WorldDrugReport(2014)-contemporarycultivationofcannabisisglobal

• Cannabinoidsarethemainpsychoactivecomponentwithinthecannabisleaf.Therearetwoforms:- Phytocannabinoids:foundinplants- Syntheticcannabinoids:manmadefromothercompounds.

• Around85phytocannabinoidshavebeenisolatedfromthecannabisplant• mostresearchhasfocusedon∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC)&cannabidiol(CBD).• THC:primarypsychoactiveintoxicant,asindicatedbythefactTHCdoseconsumedis

associatedwiththesubjectivelyreporteddrugeffect• ThesupposedpotencyofdifferentformsofthedrughavedifferentTHC

concentrations:- Cannabisherb(leaves)5%- Flowers(buds)12%

- Resin(Hashish)20%- Oils(Hashoil)60%

• ThereisinitialevidencethatalthoughCBDhaslittlepsychoactiveeffectitmayreducethepsychotomimeticeffectofTHC

• TheimplicationthatthepsychoactiveeffectofcannabinoidscanbeisolatedtoTHChasbeencrucialinjustifyingtheuseofcannabinoidsasmedicinesforavarietyofailments.MedicalmarijuanaishigherinCBDandlowerinTHCsothatCBDcancounteractthepsychoactiveeffectsofTHC.

• Thereisnowsufficientevidencefortheefficacyofcannabinoidsastreatmentsforthemtoreturntomainstreambiomedicalresearch

• Anumberofsyntheticcannabinoidshavebeencreated:

- JohnWilliamHuffman,aProfessoroforganicchemistrysynthesisedawholeseries(JWH-018)hisworkwasfundedbytheNationalInstituteonDrugAbuse(NIDA)

- ProfessorRaphaelMissoula,HebrewUniversitydevelopedHU-210- PfizerdevelopedCP47,497- Therearemanymore…

• Thesesyntheticcannabinoidsareconsidereddesignerdrugs,socalled‘spice’productsmixedherbsinfusedwithsyntheticcannabinoids

Onemightmarvelatthespeedandaccuracywithwhichthecomplexexperimentalproceduresrequiredtomakethesecompoundswererecreatedbyillicitdrugchemists.Butthenagain,leadersofthedrugtrademustsurelybeawarethatmeth/amphetamine,heroin,MDMA&cocaineallbeganasacademicexperimentsbeforebecomingglobalbilliondollarindustries.