JWH-073 Facts
Cannabinoid;
Description
JWH-073 is a synthetic cannabinoid of the naphthoylindole class. It activates cannabinoid receptors in the brain as a full agonist, with no ceiling on how strong the effect can get.[1]
Subjective effects include euphoria, sedation, appetite enhancement, and pain suppression. The experience resembles cannabis compressed into a shorter window — low doses bring deep relaxation, but a narrow margin separates comfort from adverse territory, with anxiety and disorientation arriving quickly as the dose rises.[2]
JWH-073 produces physical and psychological dependence, and its toxicity profile is steeper than cannabis.[3][4] Full agonism means no ceiling — effects can escalate to seizures, heart emergencies, and multi-organ failure without the natural limit that Δ9-THC provides.[4]
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Starts in 0 – 5 minLasts 1 – 2 hoursAfter-effects 1 – 2 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Moderate
- Chronic toxicity
- Low
- Physical dependence
- Moderate
- Psychological dependence
- Moderate
- Withdrawal
- Moderate
- Compulsive redosing
- Moderate
Tolerance
- Builds
- Rapid
- Fully resets after
- 10.5 days
- Carries over to
- THC;
JWH-018; JWH-250; cannabinoids (all CB1 agonists)
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- none likely · 10 possible, including Visual acuity suppression, Vestibular distortion, Spatial disorientation
- Body
- Body high;
Dry mouth; +17 possible, including Vasoconstriction, Motor control impairment, Dehydration sensation - Thinking
- none likely · 17 possible, including Cognitive impairment, Memory suppression, Analysis suppression
- Feeling
- none likely · 5 possible, including Anxiety, Paranoia, Emotional lability
- Self
- none likely · 3 possible, including Craving
- 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, Gallus-Zawada A, Radominska-Pandya A, Vasiljevik T, Prisinzano TE, Fantegrossi WE, Moran JH, Prather PL (2012) Monohydroxylated metabolites of the K2 synthetic cannabinoid JWH-073 retain intermediate to high cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) affinity and exhibit neutral antagonist to partial agonist activity — Biochemical Pharmacology doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2012.01.004
- [2]^Simmons J, Cookman L, Kang C, Skinner C (2011) Three cases of spice exposure — Clinical Toxicology doi:10.3109/15563650.2011.584316
- [3]^Cooper ZD (2016) Adverse Effects of Synthetic Cannabinoids: Management of Acute Toxicity and Withdrawal — Current Psychiatry Reports doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0694-1
- [4]^abTait RJ, Caldicott D, Mountain D, Hill SL, Lenton S (2016) A systematic review of adverse events arising from the use of synthetic cannabinoids and their associated treatment — Clinical Toxicology doi:10.3109/15563650.2015.1110590