Acute Pharmacological Effects and Oral Fluid Biomarkers of the Synthetic Cannabinoid UR-144 and THC in Recreational Users
Biology March 24, 2021 Nunzia la Maida, Esther Papaseit, Lucía Martínez de Soto et al. 14 citations
Synthetic cannabinoid UR-144, monitored by the EU Early Warning System since 2012 for severe adverse effects, shows a similar cardiovascular profile to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but with less intense subjective effects. In an observational study, 16 volunteers smoked joints containing either UR-144 (1 or 1.5 mg) or cannabis (10 or 20 mg THC). Both substances significantly increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. UR-144 produced lower scores on visual analog scales for stimulant-like and high effects compared to cannabis, and no hallucinogenic effects were observed. UR-144 was detectable in oral fluid, peaking at 20 minutes after smoking, offering a non-invasive biomarker of consumption. These preliminary findings require confirmation in larger samples.