This factsheet aims to provide information to reduce the risk of unintentionally consuming synthetic cannabinoids by users of illegal cannabis containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) where they are unable to take advantage of drug checking services; if available, so-called Cannabidiol (CBD) Quick Tests can be used. Since the beginning of 2020, legal CBD cannabis has increasingly been mixed with synthetic cannabinoids and sold as illegal THC cannabis in Switzerland.

Synthetic cannabinoids are largely unresearched substances. There is hardly any precise information available on their effects, risks, reciprocal effects with other substances or long-term consequences. The risk of overdose with strong intoxication is generally very high with synthetic cannabinoids. This risk increases significantly through incorrect declarations made at the time of sale. Synthetic cannabinoids are not visually recognisable, nor in terms of taste; only a complex analysis, such as those undertaken by a drug checking process, provides information about the actual substances at hand. If cannabis users do not have the possibility to use drug checking services, they can use a CBD Quick Test. While the result of a CBD Quick Test is not comparable to a drug checking result from a laboratory, it can be applied inexpensively and easily at home.