Are K2 and Spice the same as marijuana?

Drugs like K2 and Spice are sometimes called “synthetic marijuana” or “fake weed,” but experts say these are misleading terms. Marijuana is a plant that’s grown for both medical and recreational use. Synthetic cannabinoids are plant material that’s been sprayed with an active drug.

The drugs in products like K2 and Spice aren’t chemically related to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Both types of drugs bind to the same cannabinoid receptors in the brain, but K2 or Spice drugs bind to these receptors much more strongly and produce more intense effects. Synthetic cannabinoids can be up to 100 times more potent than THC.

What’s in K2/Spice products?