Spice

Introduction to Spice

Synthetic cannabinoids, more commonly referred to by the street name spice, are becoming a major concern in the UK. Listed as a Class B Drug under the UK Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 since 2016, it's illegal to possess, sell, or produce synthetic cannabinoids. Despite that, the reported usage rates are increasing, especially in UK schools and prisons.

As a Class B Drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, possession, supply, and production of spice carry serious legal consequences. Individuals in possession of spice could face up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine, and anyone producing or distributing the drug risks a maximum sentence of 14 years and an unlimited fine.

It's a dangerous drug with big consequences. Below, we've put together a comprehensive guide that explores the available drug testing methods to detect spice misuse.

Spice Street Names

Spice has several street names. Some of the most common include:

• K2
• Black Magic
• Mamba
• Blaze

You will most commonly hear of it being called spice, although there is a trend of street dealers distributing synthetic cannabinoids under the false "marketing" that it's delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. And because, as the name suggests, synthetic cannabinoids are produced to replicate the effects of THC, it's easy to mistake one for the other in street markets.

Spice's Chemical Structure

The chemical structure of spice depends on the specific variation of it, but often the nomenclature is derived from the four main structural components; the core, tail, linker, and linked group. There's no definitive number of spice compositions, but since 2012, over 247 synthetic cannabinoid variations have been reported to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).  It's the largest, relatively new group of psychoactive substances in Europe, accounting for 25% of all substances.

Most spice mixtures using lab-made cannabinoids are built around structures like JWH-018, HU-210, or XLR-11. As the drug market changes, increasingly being found are newer synthetics and semi-synthetic cannabinoids, such as MDMB-4en-PINACA and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC).

Spice Use in Legal Scenarios

Drug testing for spice misuse in legal proceedings is common in the following scenarios:

• Drug trafficking
• Domestic abuse
• Drug driving
• Child custody cases
• Studies Highlighting The Issues of Spice Misuse in The UK

A recent October 2025 study published on PubMed analysed 27 secondary (age 11-18) schools. The study found that e-cigarettes containing synthetic cannabinoids were present in 77.8% of the schools, with 17.4% of all samples seized containing synthetic cannabinoids. They were mainly found in refillable vapes and liquid bottles.

A separate study published on Science Direct sent a questionnaire to 122 people between the ages of 19 and 67 in a Category B prison for adult males in England between July 2022 and March 2023. Results found 46.7% of prisoners admitted to knowingly using synthetic cannabinoids, with 75.9% using e-cigarettes.

It's clear to see that the misuse of synthetic cannabinoids is significant across age ranges, and the risk is that they carry a 30x greater risk of needing emergency medical treatment after consumption (Wiley Online Library). This isn’t only due to how dangerous they are, but also where they are mis-sold and individuals are accidentally overdosing on the substances thinking they are taking something they commonly use and believe is a ‘safe’ amount.

False Positives and Interpretation of Spice Results

Interpreting spice test results presents unique challenges due to the rapidly evolving nature of synthetic cannabinoids. New formulations and chemical analogues are continually introduced to evade legislation and detection, meaning some emerging compounds may not yet be included in existing testing panels. As a result, a negative result does not always definitively rule out exposure if testing is not fully up to date.

For this reason, spice testing should be carried out using laboratories that regularly update their analytical methods and reference libraries, and results should always be interpreted by experienced toxicologists who understand the limitations posed by novel and semi-synthetic cannabinoid structures.