Cannabinoides sintéticos: Consideraciones químicas, farmacológicas-toxicológicas y fiscalización legal

Introduction: Synthetic cannabinoids are substances that produce effects similar to marijuana, but with completely different chemical structures. Although they originated as substances used for medical and research purposes, their easy accessibility—as they are typically sold through electronic platforms such as the internet and social media—along with a lack of clear information about them, have led to their abuse. They are used to generate more intense effects and evade legal action by constantly modifying their chemical structure, making them difficult to identify. Objective: This review addresses the topic of synthetic cannabinoids, including their chemical characterization, pharmacology, toxicology, and legal aspects related to their regulation. Methodology: The systematic review was conducted by searching the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, covering the period from 2013 to 2024. The search terms included "synthetic cannabinoids," "adverse effects," "legislation," "pharmacology," "clinical toxicology," and "chemistry," combined with the Boolean operator AND. Results: The chemical structures and functional groups are presented to understand the complexities of nomenclature and identification. The physiological effects and mechanisms of action of synthetic cannabinoids are discussed, as well as their potential toxicological effects. Finally, the regulatory mechanisms and their impact on international legislation regarding the control of illicit trafficking are discussed. Conclusions: The continued emergence of synthetic cannabinoids poses a problem for healthcare systems worldwide. Understanding the chemical characteristics, structures, nomenclature and classification, as well as the analytical methodologies used for their identification, pharmacological aspects and toxicological findings, as well as the complications and challenges within the framework of global legislation for their control, is key for its scientific community.