VIENNA, Austria – December 2020: UNODC has recently launched a revision of the manual for "Recommended methods for the Identification and Analysis of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists in Seized Materials" first published in 2013. The revision takes into account the emergence of new synthetic cannabinoids, the inclusion of a number of substances in the International Drug Conventions and the latest developments in analytical technology with a view to providing the basis for reliable forensic scientific evidence on seized materials containing synthetic cannabinoids.

In 2013, when the manual was first published, 167 individual synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) had been reported to UNODC Early Warning Advisory (EWA) from 80 countries and territories making it one of the largest groups of NPS. However, this number has since grown to a reach of more than 300 synthetic cannabinoids in 2020.  

The highest number of different synthetic cannabinoids reported per year was reached in 2014 with 180 different substances, followed by 150 substances in 2018. Between 2015 and 2019, on average 134 different synthetic cannabinoids were reported to the UNODC EWA each year. Despite the decline in diversity of synthetic cannabinoids present on the market each year, they remain one of the largest and most dynamic groups of NPS.

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