Semisynthetic cannabinoids (SSCs) are a group of substances that recently emerged as recreational drugs and quickly gained popularity due to their legality in many countries. In contrast to synthetic cannabinoids, they are usually synthesized from natural cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD) via relatively simple reactions. For example, hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) can be synthesized via acid catalysed cyclization of CBD, usually resulting in a mixture of Δ8- and Δ9-THC, and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation, leading to a mixture of the (9R)- and the (9S)-diastereomer of HHC. Other variants include acetylation of the phenolic hydroxy group or chain length variation of the pentyl side chain.
The current knowledge on analytical methods for their detection and the pharmacological properties of a few SSCs will be summarized. In addition, first results from a monitoring study performed on test purchases in various online and retail shops are presented.
