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 The Lycaeum Forums » Psychedelics & Non Visionary Related » Visionary Chemicals (Moderator: 2a)Topic:
 carcinogenic potential of JWH-018

[2a]

I've been reading a lot of confusing, unnerving, and conflicting data regarding potentially carcinogenic effects of  JWH-018 metabolites.  But I lack the biochemistry background to effectively make sense of the debate.  I've seen the preliminary reports that report no genotoxic effects of the compound, but I still would like to hear the knowledgeable opinions of our own local experts on the matter.  From what I've seen, this is all based on the theory that JWH-018 may be metabolized into mutagenic epoxides, but I'm not clear if there are any published reports that demonstrate that this pathway is used at all, or if it is indeed used, if any harmful metabolites are actually produced or simply benign ones.  Where did this theory come from?  Is it based simply off the presence of a napthoyl ring in the molecule, or is there another more direct link?
I'm aware that no definitive answer is available, I'd just like a little clarity from people I know and trust.

[ST1R]

IIRC The 018/cancer fear is based on JWH-015 being said to create epoxides during metabolization in mice, but that may not have any bearing on 018. Additionally 015 was found to inhibit cancerous prostate tumors in humans. Mice are far from the best human models but they are a good place to start. 018 has allegedly been found not to be carcinogenic by an unsigned toxicity study (the scientific equivalent of "Some guy said...") and no human trials have ever been performed. All tests that have been done on mice were p.o. who knows what it may decompose into, what impurities may be present, etc. Long answer shorter, who knows? 25 years from now it might turn out to be cancerous, it might turn out to give super-powers, it could be the fountain of youth, might do nothing.

... nobody knows, what the future holds..."

[Papa Doobie]

can't be worse than cigarettes

(famous last words )

[foreward]

^^ I agree. In this modern age we encounter many "possible carcinogens" unless science is suggesting that someone will certainly and immediately have cancer from smoking JWH-018, I am not going to worry a whole lot about this.

[2a]

in the case that it does produce carcinogenic metabolites, would it likely show the same tapering off of cancer-risk with prolonged cessation of exposure that tobacco displays? (i.e. after 15 years of not smoking tobacco, the risk of developing lung cancer drops to that of non-smokers)