LGC Standards has provided reference materials for experimental cannabis receptor agonists found in Spice, a herbal material marketed as a 'legal high'.
Spice has recently caught the attention of analysts and politicians across Europe.
Reports claim that two research chemicals developed as experimental cannabis receptor agonists, JWH-018 and CP-47497, have been identified as possible compounds present in Spice.
JWH-018 and CP-47497 have recently been added to the German controlled substances list and are under legislative consideration by other European countries.
LGC Standards has also heard reports from the US that a further compound, HU-210, may be present in Spice.
It appears that these substances have been added to the herbal Spice blend to boost its effects.
Laboratories may be called on to establish whether these compounds are present in materials being submitted for analysis.
LGC Standards has sourced materials to aid in this analysis, which are available from local offices across Europe.
Reference materials for JWH-018 and CP-47497 will also be affected by the controlled substances legislation, making procurement more complicated.
LGC Standards has expertise in the export of restricted substances and is preparing to supply this material from stock to allow a quick response to laboratory enquiries.
LGC Standards also has a range of products to assist laboratories in the analysis of benzyl piperazines (BZP), which are widely used as an ecstasy replacement and will be controlled across Europe from April 2009.
LGC Standards continues to monitor upcoming drugs of abuse trends to allow quick supply of relevant new reference materials.
