Since we first reported on a synthetic cannabinoid compound called JWH back in February, "herbal incense" blends containing the compound have been selling like crazy on the Internet and at head shops. An Arizona company even claims to now sell pure, lab-made JWH in powder form.
But for all its popularity (and potential impending illegality in the 44 states where it is still unregulated, which include Arizona), one frequently asked question remains: Will JWH show up on a drug test?
The answer, until now, has been "probably not." But last month, scientists in the United Kingdom developed a test to detect JWH compounds in herbal incense, and a multi-million dollar drug testing company in the U.S. is currently working on a JWH test they hope to introduce by the end of the year.
One reason JWH and herbal incense blends have been popular with
military personnel and athletes (both jobs that generally require drug
tests) is because JWH won't show up as marijuana on a test that's
specifically looking for pot. Though JWH is believed to have the same
effect on the human brain as THC (the psychoactive ingredient in
marijuana), it is a synthetic substance and does not produce the metabolite (THC-COOH) in urine
that indicates marijuana use.
To put it simply, a drug test would have to specifically screen for JWH
chemicals to detect them. Until last month, no such tests existed --
but they are being developed and they will be coming stateside soon.
Last month, scientists at Manchester Metropolitan University in England developed a test capable of quickly identifying the presence of
JWH compounds in herbal incense blends like Spice and K2. Dr.
Craig Banks and his colleagues took a Spice blend called Gold Spirit,
and through a complicated process known as standard gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), they were able to isolate the
JWH compounds and determine the quantity inside the herbal blend.
The test is being hailed as a potentially vital tool for law
enforcement; it would allow forensic labs to find JWH in consumer
products (JWH is illegal in the United Kingdom). The fact that
Manchester Metropolitan University's test is geared more toward product
policing and not human urinalysis might be a comfort to JWH smokers --
it if weren't for the fact that a urinalysis test for JWH is being
developed right now in the United States.
Drug Free Sport, a company that handles drug testing for the NFL and
NCAA, is currently working on a test to detect JWH chemicals in
athletes. The National Center for Drug Free Sport Inc. hopes the test
will be available by the end of this year.
The focus on athlete testing might be a comfort to non-athletes who
smoke JWH, but given the pace at which U.S. states are making JWH
illegal (six since February, with seven others considering similar
bans), there's always the chance that a JWH test will soon be readily
available -- and used -- in areas where the compound is controlled.
