Synthetic Cannabinoids Testing

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Synthetic Cannabinoids refer to man-made mind-altering chemicals that are either sprayed on dried, shredded plant material so they can be smoked (herbal incense) or sold as liquids to be vaporized and inhaled in e-cigarettes and other devices (liquid incense).

What are Synthetic Cannabinoids

Synthetic Cannabinoids are often marketed as a “legal high” alternative to marijuana, and are commonly sold as incense in retail stores, head shops and on the internet. In response to reports of an alarming increase in abuse and overdoses, the Federal Government has classified many synthetic substances as Schedule I drugs under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act — the same category as heroin and LSD.

Marketed as “Legal Highs”
Widely believed to be more dangerous than the real thing
Although these products are often marketed as “safe” alternatives to marijuana, they may affect the brain much more powerfully than marijuana
Their effects can be unpredictable and severe
The products on the market represent a constantly changing combination of Synthetic Cannabinoid compounds

The Psychemedics Test

Psychemedics is the first laboratory in the world to develop and market a hair test for Synthetic Cannabinoids for the workplace. The non-invasive testing procedure uses a small sample of hair that is easily collected and shipped to Psychemedics’ College of American Pathologists (CAP) and ISO/IEC 17025:2005 certified laboratory. Unlike urinalysis or oral fluid testing which typically detects drug use for only the previous one to three days, Psychemedics hair analysis can detect use over the previous few months.

The screen for the Psychemedics test will be continually updated to address changes in the Synthetic Cannabinoids market, adding additional parent compounds to the screen as they are identified and become prevalent as reported by the scientific, law enforcement and regulatory communities.

View the press release announcement about the launch of the Synthetic Cannabinoid hair test.

For more information about how your organization can benefit from this test, contact us at 877-517-2033.