JWH-018 Facts
Cannabinoid;
Description
JWH-018 (naphthalen-1-yl-(1-pentylindol-3-yl)methanone) — Spice, K2 — is a synthetic cannabinoid of the naphthoylindole class. It is far more potent than cannabis and structurally derived from the research compound WIN55,212-2. It fully activates the brain's cannabinoid receptors, driving a stronger response than THC can produce at any dose.[1]
Subjective effects include euphoria, sedation, altered time perception, perceptual distortion, and intensified sensory experience. The experience resembles cannabis but arrives harder and faster — full receptor activation removes the ceiling that normally limits how intense cannabis intoxication can become.
JWH-018 produces moderate physical and psychological dependence; tolerance builds quickly as cannabinoid receptors reduce their sensitivity.[2] The steep dose-response curve and uneven distribution in commercial products make the gap between uncomfortable and dangerous unpredictably narrow — seizures can occur and may not respond to standard treatment.[3]
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Starts in 5 – 10 minLasts 1 – 2 hoursAfter-effects 60 – 90 min
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Moderate
- Chronic toxicity
- Moderate
- Physical dependence
- Moderate
- Psychological dependence
- Moderate
- Withdrawal
- Moderate
- Compulsive redosing
- Moderate
Tolerance
- Builds
- Moderate
- Fully resets after
- 1.5 weeks
- Carries over to
- THC;
JWH-073; cannabinoids
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- none likely · 14 possible, including Vestibular distortion, Spatial disorientation, Visual haze / noise
- Body
- Body high;
+15 possible, including Motor control impairment, Dizziness, Dehydration sensation - Thinking
- none likely · 19 possible, including Memory suppression, Cognitive impairment, Analysis suppression
- Feeling
- none likely · 6 possible, including Anxiety, Paranoia, Dysphoria
- Self
- none likely · 3 possible, including Communication suppression
- Time
- none likely · 3 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Who shouldn't take it
Combinations60 recorded
Seek help immediately if
Natural cannabis rarely causes a medical emergency — "greening out" is: pale/sweaty skin, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, anxiety or panic, rapid heartbeat, feeling faint — and usually passes with rest.
Seek emergency help for these — far more likely with synthetic cannabinoids ("spice" / K2):
- Seizures
- Severe chest pain; very fast or irregular heartbeat
- Unresponsiveness or extreme drowsiness
- Severe agitation, aggression, or psychosis
- Repeated vomiting; difficulty breathing
What to do
- Sit or lie them down somewhere calm, cool, and quiet
- Reassure them — cannabis panic and "greening out" pass with time
- Offer sips of water; a little sugar can help if they feel faint
- Recovery position if nauseated, drowsy, or vomiting
- Stay with them and monitor
- For seizures, chest pain, unresponsiveness, or severe agitation, call emergency services
Natural cannabis "greening out" resolves with rest, calm, and time, with no lasting harm. Synthetic cannabinoids are unpredictable and can cause seizures, cardiac events, kidney injury, and severe agitation that needs emergency care.
988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE
References
- [1]^Brents LK, Reichard EE, Zimmerman SM, Moran JH, Fantegrossi WE (2011) Phase I Hydroxylated Metabolites of the K2 Synthetic Cannabinoid JWH-018 Retain In Vitro and In Vivo Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Affinity and Activity — PLoS ONE doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021917
- [2]^Tai S, Hyatt WS, Gu C, Franks LN, Vasiljevik T, Brents LK, Prather PL, Fantegrossi WE (2015) Repeated administration of phytocannabinoid Δ9-THC or synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 and JWH-073 induces tolerance to hypothermia but not locomotor suppression in mice, and reduces CB1 receptor expression and function in a brain region-specific manner — Pharmacological Research doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2015.09.006
- [3]^Wilson CD, Tai S, Ewing L, Crane J, Lockhart T, Fujiwara R, Radominska-Pandya A, Fantegrossi WE (2019) Convulsant Effects of Abused Synthetic Cannabinoids JWH-018 and 5F-AB-PINACA Are Mediated by Agonist Actions at CB1 Receptors in Mice — The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics doi:10.1124/jpet.118.251157