Current findings in NRW
New developments can be observed throughout Europe in connection with CBD hemp or CBD grass.
Since fall 2020, narcotics have been circulating in individual cases in which CBD-rich plant material (flowers or resin) has been mixed with very potent synthetic cannabinoids. This is not visible to the naked eye. There are reports of similar cases from various federal states. Throughout Europe, an alert issued by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA - EU-EWS-RCS-AD-2020-0003, 22.12.2020) referred to cases in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Austria. These include cases in which acute intoxication occurred after consumption of the relevant material.
These synthetic cannabinoids are purchased as pure substances and applied to the plant material. Depending on the type of active ingredient applied, they may be substances covered by the Narcotics Act (BtmG) or the New Psychoactive Substances Act (NpSG). This phenomenon has so far only been observed in NRW with "loose" material, i.e. not with CBD-rich materials sold in kiosks, for example, under appropriate packaging/advertising.
The Federal Criminal Police Office and the Customs Criminal Police Office have also recently issued a joint warning against cannabis products containing synthetic cannabinoids.
Further information / advice
- Project of the Federal Center for Health Education https://www.drugcom.de you can find more information about legal and illegal drugs.
- Internet page of the Police Crime Prevention Program of the federal states and the federal government (ProPK): www.polizei-beratung.de
- The ProPK website for children and young people www.polizeifürdich.de for children and young people between the ages of 12 and 15
- Ginko Foundation for Prevention, State Coordination Office for Addiction Prevention: www.ginko-stiftung.de