Internet survey found 62 websites selling 128 brands of synthetic cannabinoid vaping products, easily accessible with bulk discounts
A snapshot survey of the surface web found 62 websites selling 128 brands of synthetic cannabinoid vaping products, with misleading safety disclaimers, bulk discount incentives, and median prices of just 3.39 per mL.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
62 websites sold 128 SCRA vaping brands. Most were purportedly US-based (66%). Purchase incentives included discreet packaging (61%), bulk discounts (55%), and tracked delivery (48%). Misleading disclaimers included "not for human consumption" (66%), "research purposes only" (24%), and claims products were "legal" (45%). 99.6% were liquid products. Price decreased with volume: 6.58/mL for small quantities, 1.60/mL for bulk.
Key Numbers
62 websites. 128 SCRA vaping brands. Median 16 brands per website. 99.6% liquid form. Most common bottle: 5 mL. Median price: 3.39/mL. Bulk pricing: 1.60/mL for >200 mL. 66% claimed "not for human consumption." 45% claimed products were "legal."
How They Did This
Internet snapshot survey using Google searches with five relevant search terms between October 2022 and January 2023. Products, pricing, branding, and disclaimers were catalogued from identified websites.
Why This Research Matters
Synthetic cannabinoid vaping products are easily accessible on the regular internet (not dark web), marketed with misleading safety claims, and available in bulk at low prices. This accessibility, combined with their extreme potency and toxicity, represents a public health concern.
The Bigger Picture
The "not for human consumption" and "research purposes only" disclaimers are a known regulatory loophole that has persisted for years. The availability of bulk quantities at steep discounts suggests both individual and distribution-level purchasing.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Snapshot from October 2022-January 2023; market may have changed. Could not verify product contents or actual SCRA concentrations. Focused on UK-accessible websites. Search terms may not capture all available products. Cannot determine actual sales volumes.
Questions This Raises
- ?What specific SCRAs are in these products?
- ?Are website claims about legality accurate?
- ?What proportion of ER visits for synthetic cannabinoid toxicity trace to online purchases?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 128 SCRA vaping brands across 62 websites with bulk discounts
- Evidence Grade:
- Systematic internet survey providing market landscape data, though product contents were not chemically verified.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study
- Original Title:
- An Internet Snapshot Survey Assessing the sale of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists for use with Electronic Vaping Devices.
- Published In:
- Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, 20(3), 271-277 (2024)
- Authors:
- Gould, Allon, Dargan, Paul I(6), Wood, David M(5)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05348
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What are synthetic cannabinoids?
Lab-made chemicals that bind to the same brain receptors as THC but are often far more potent and unpredictable. They can cause seizures, psychosis, cardiovascular emergencies, and death. They are chemically distinct from plant cannabis.
How can these be sold legally?
Sellers exploit regulatory gaps by labeling products as "not for human consumption" or "research chemicals," rapidly changing chemical formulations to stay ahead of specific bans, and operating from jurisdictions with limited enforcement.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05348APA
Gould, Allon; Dargan, Paul I; Wood, David M. (2024). An Internet Snapshot Survey Assessing the sale of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists for use with Electronic Vaping Devices.. Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, 20(3), 271-277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-024-01013-0
MLA
Gould, Allon, et al. "An Internet Snapshot Survey Assessing the sale of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists for use with Electronic Vaping Devices.." Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-024-01013-0
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "An Internet Snapshot Survey Assessing the sale of Synthetic ..." RTHC-05348. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/gould-2024-an-internet-snapshot-survey
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.