Abstract
In the last few months, a new drug has conquered the cannabis market: different types of incenses (trade names “Spice”, “Smoke” and others) have widely been misused by smoking these blends of herbs. Very recently, an artificial endocannabinoid receptor agonist (JWH-018) has been suspected to be the pharmacologically active principle in these blends. In the meantime JWH-018 could also be detected in „Smoke“. The aims of this study were to find blood samples positive only for JWH-018 and to check whether there are typical distinctive features or symptoms of deficiency in the corresponding drivers. A series of initially negative tested (IA and GC-MS) blood samples in DUID cases were reanalyzed for the presence of JWH-018 using LC-MS/MS. The police forms for observations concerning impairment of driving ability and the physician’s examination report in JWH-018 positive cases were evaluated. JWH-018 could be found blood samples initially tested negative by routine methods. The concentrations were estimated to be in the low ng/mL range. Typical distinctive features/symptoms of deficiency were: reddened conjunctivae, watery eyes, slow to missing pupillary reaction to light, shiver, agitation, ataxia, disturbance of equilibrium, slurred speech and delayed reaction. The physician’s diagnoses were slight or considerable impairment by drugs. At least in DUID cases with typical signs of impairment and negative test results for the usual suspects, JWH-018 should be tested for. As expected from an endocannabinoid agonist, JWH-018 seems to lead to typical signs of cannabis use.
Krämer, T