Synthetic Cannabis Overdose and Withdrawal ina Young Adult: A Case Report, Commentary on Regulation, andReview of the Literature

Marijuana has been used for its psychotropic effects including enhanced relaxation and perceptual alterations.However, the use of synthetic marijuana (SM) leads to more frequent and drastic side effects than the typical use of regularmarijuana, owing to the fact that SM has a shorter duration and an earlier peak of action. Despite all the potential adverse healtheffects associated with SM use, current health policies on SM are very limited. It is believed that the popularity of SM has increased,due to its easy accessibility in the US and lack of detection in typical urine drug screens for THC.Case Report. One case presentedis of a young adult patient, with histories of recurrent synthetic cannabis and recreational cannabis use, who had developed drasticphysiological and psychiatric symptoms, including the development of acute-onset psychosis.Conclusion/Discussion.Thiscase,asmany others nationwide, exemplifies the impact of synthetic cannabinoid use and abuse in adolescents. Side effects and adversehealth consequences of synthetic cannabinoid use warrant stricter regulations and policies in order to decrease psychiatric hospitaladmissions and associated healthcare costs