Since the first detection of synthetic cannabinomimetics in herbal smoking blends in 2008 the clandestine production of these compounds, based on seizure data, increased in number every year until ~2012. In recent years there has been a decline in synthetic cannabinomimetic production both in number and diversity. The synthetic details of the first generation cannabinoids were documented in the scientific and medical literature making production comparatively simple. Subsequent generations of synthetic cannabinoids involved more complex but still very practicable synthetic chemistry. This resulted in a period of rapid growth in synthetic cannabinoids creating a health crisis and problems for forensic chemists faced with many substances for which no certified reference materials existed. Routine forensic chemistry laboratories were well practiced at identifying known drugs using chromatographic–mass spectrometric techniques and comparison to reference materials. However as synthetic cannabinomimetics, often referred to in the literature as synthetic cannabinoids, appeared in large numbers, few laboratories were equipped with the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers and high resolution mass spectrometers (HRMS) required for identification of unknown substances. These developments also challenged public prosecutors for opinions from forensic experts as to the legality or otherwise of these novel drugs.

自2008年首次在草药烟熏混合物中检测到合成大麻素以来，根据缉获数据，这些化合物的秘密生产数量逐年增加，直到2012年为止。近年来，合成大麻素生产的数量和多样性都在下降。第一代大麻素的合成细节已记录在科学和医学文献中，使生产相对简单。合成大麻素的后代涉及更复杂但仍非常实用的合成化学。这导致合成大麻素出现快速增长的时期，造成了健康危机，并且法医化学家面临着许多没有经过认证的参考物质的物质的问题。常规法医化学实验室在使用色谱-质谱技术鉴定参考药物并与参考物质进行比较方面，实践得很好。但是，由于合成大麻素在文献中经常被称为合成大麻素，因此大量出现，很少有实验室配备鉴定未知物质所需的核磁共振（NMR）光谱仪和高分辨率质谱仪（HRMS）。这些事态发展也挑战了检察官对于这些新药的合法性或其他方面的司法鉴定意见。出现的数量很多，很少有实验室配备核磁共振（NMR）光谱仪和高分辨率质谱仪（HRMS）来鉴定未知物质。这些事态发展还挑战了检察官对于这些新药的合法性或其他方面的司法鉴定意见。出现的数量很多，很少有实验室配备核磁共振（NMR）光谱仪和高分辨率质谱仪（HRMS）来鉴定未知物质。这些事态发展也挑战了检察官对于这些新药的合法性或其他方面的司法鉴定意见。