Synthetic marijuana has been shown to be more dangerous and possibly more addictive than natural marijuana. Along with K2 and Spice, Mojo is one of the brands.
“Mojo” or mojo drug is the brand name of a synthetic cannabis product that has become popular in recent years. Other brands of synthetic cannabis include “K2” or “spice.” Synthetic cannabis products are sold as dried herbs or as a liquid used in “vapes” or “e-cigarettes.”
Mojo and similar products rose to popularity because they were briefly legal and could be purchased in stores and online. However, they were not legal because they are safe to use; on the contrary, they were legal because it takes the medical and legal community years to regulate synthetic drugs.
Synthetic cannabis products like Mojo, K2, and Spice rose in popularity as legal alternatives to cannabis. In 2015, and again in 2017, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) added synthetic cannabis products to the list of Schedule I drugs, similar to cannabis. Schedule I drugs have no recognized medical use and a high potential for addiction and abuse.
Mojo and other synthetic cannabinoid products may have been called safe and legal at one point, but we now know they are not safe and are no longer legal.
What is Mojo Drug Made Of?
Mojo is not marijuana. Companies package dried plant material, like tea leaves, and spray it with synthetic chemicals. These chemicals mimic the effects of THC in cannabis. Mojo usually contains the chemical AB-CHMINACA, which provides a similar effect to the natural cannabinoids found in marijuana.
Is Mojo a Synthetic Drug?
Yes, mojo is a synthetic cannabinoid drug. It mimics the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Synthetic drugs are human-made chemicals made to produce similar effects to other illegal substances.
Examples of brand and street names for synthetic cannabis include:
- Black Mamba
- Blaze
- Bliss
- Bombay Blue
- Cloud 9
- Crown
- Fake Weed
- Genie
- K2
- Kush
- Red X Dawn
- Relax
- Spice
- Zoh
Side Effects & Risks
Unfortunately, when someone ingests mojo, they never really know what they are using. A number of chemicals may be coating the product or mixed in with the chemical. There is no regulation around what synthetic cannabis contains.
Some Common Side Effects Include:
- Chest pain
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Paranoia
- Rapid heart rate
- Seizures
- Suicidal thoughts
- Trouble breathing
- Violent behaviors
Is Mojo Drug Safe?
No, mojo and similar products are not safe. In fact, in 2011, almost 30,000 people went to hospital emergency departments (EDs) because of using synthetic cannabis.
These products can be 15x more potent than natural cannabis, causing unpredictable side effects. The most harmful effects of synthetic cannabis are violent behaviors, seizures, and vomiting that leads to dehydration.
The Examiner “Synthetic Compound Added to Federal Schedule of Controlled Substances” 2019. Accessed Aug 22, 2019.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Emerging Trends and Alerts.” Drugabuse.Gov, 2019. Accessed Aug 22, 2019.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Synthetic Cannabinoids (K2/Spice).” 2016. Accessed Aug 22, 2019.
PubChem. “AB-Chminaca.” 2019. Accessed Aug 22, 2019.
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