Spice is a nickname for a substance containing one or more synthetic cannabinoids, which are lab-made drugs designed to mimic the effects of THC, the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. Synthetic cannabinoids are sometimes misleadingly called synthetic marijuana or fake weed, and they are often marketed as safe, legal alternatives to that drug. However, they are not safe and may affect the brain much more powerfully than marijuana; their actual effects can be unpredictable and, in some cases, more dangerous or even life-threatening.

Spice is not a single drug, but a range of laboratory-made chemicals that mimic the effects of THC. Synthetic cannabis, of which Spice is an example, is linked to serious health issues ranging from difficulties breathing to psychotic episodes. Research suggests that Spice and other forms of synthetic cannabis are capable of producing much more intense and prolonged effects at much lower doses than natural cannabis. This is because, while the THC in natural cannabis only partially reacts with the body, synthetic cannabis reacts far more fully.

Synthetic cannabinoids are part of a group of drugs called new psychoactive substances (NPS), which are unregulated mind-altering substances that have become newly available on the market and are intended to produce the same effects as illegal drugs. Some of these substances may have been around for years but have reentered the market in altered chemical forms, or due to renewed popularity. False advertising is also a common issue with Spice and other synthetic cannabinoids, as they are often marketed as safe and legal alternatives to marijuana, which is not true.

In summary, Spice is a range of laboratory-made chemicals that mimic the effects of THC, the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. Synthetic cannabinoids are not safe and may affect the brain much more powerfully than marijuana, and their actual effects can be unpredictable and, in some cases, more dangerous or even life-threatening.