PTC drug: what's really inside these "Pète ton crâne" vapes
By the Golden High teamUpdated 11 November 20268 min read
Harm reduction
The PTC drug, short for "Pète ton crâne" (French slang for "blow your head off"), is a synthetic product sold mostly as an e-liquid for vapes: it contains synthetic cannabinoids, lab-made molecules that have nothing to do with the THC or CBD in the plant. In February 2025, the ANSM, the French medicines agency, warned about teenagers hospitalised after vaping it. Here's what's inside, what it does, how to spot a dodgy product and who to call if something goes wrong.
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PTC drug: a lab-made cannabinoid.
"PTC" is a nickname, not the name of a molecule. It refers to vape liquids, less often herbs or powders, that contain one or more synthetic cannabinoids. These substances are made entirely in a lab to bind to the same receptors as THC, but they share neither its structure nor its strength: they're often much more potent.
The OFDT, the French drugs observatory, lists PTC among new synthetic products, alongside other trade names such as "Mad Hatter" or "Buddha Blues". The ANSM also mentions it under the name "Buddha Blue". These products sell for a few dozen euros, often with no mention at all of the molecules inside.
- What it is: an e-liquid or smoked product containing synthetic cannabinoids.
- What it isn't: not THC, not CBD, not a hemp extract.
- Where it circulates: mainly online and among young people, sometimes resold on the street.
- Why it's worrying: impossible-to-control dosage, serious effects, dependence.
Is PTC cannabis?
Why PTC isn't cannabis.
The name plays on ambiguity: people talk about "synthetic cannabis", "spice", "strong CBD". In reality, the composition changes from batch to batch and follows the bans: when one molecule is outlawed, another takes its place. Seizures analysed in France in 2022 notably included ADB-BUTINACA and 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA; the ANSM has also found MDMB-PINACA in products sold as CBD.
| Cannabis (THC) | Hemp CBD | PTC (synthetic cannabinoids) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Plant | Plant, under 0.3% THC | Lab, often outside Europe |
| Molecule | Delta-9-THC | Cannabidiol | Variable, rarely stated |
| Dosage | Variable, but known | Strength shown on serious products | Impossible to control in an e-liquid |
| Rapid cannabis test | Positive | May react to THC traces | Not detected by standard tests |
PTC belongs to the same family as ADB-Pinaca, whose story we tell in ADB-Pinaca: why this lab-made cannabinoid has nothing to do with what you smoke. And to understand how it differs from the names you'll see in shops, our article on THCX shows what to demand from a label.
What the authorities say
Repeated alerts, mostly about young people.
Several French public bodies have been monitoring these products for years. Their findings overlap: potent molecules, labels that lie, and users who are often very young.
ANSM · 6 February 2025
Alert on vaping non-nicotine psychoactive substances. The agency names synthetic cannabinoids such as PTC, which can be stronger than cannabis and are sometimes mixed with synthetic benzodiazepines, and reports new cases of teenagers hospitalised in 2024.
ANSM and Anses · 19 June 2025
Several hundred poisonings since early 2024 from products sold as CBD, including e-liquids, which actually contained synthetic cannabinoids (HHC, HHC-O, H4-CBD, H2-CBD, MDMB-PINACA) or too much THC.
OFDT · state of knowledge
209 new synthetic cannabinoids detected in Europe since 2008. Colourful vials, catchy names, sales mostly online: products within easy reach of the youngest. The most common age of users identified by the SINTES monitoring system: 18.
OFDT · e-liquids
With an e-liquid, users can't control their dose, even though the active dose varies hugely from one molecule to another: a mistake can have serious consequences.
These alerts don't only concern products sold under the PTC name. They cover any "cannabis" liquid of unknown origin, including when it's sold as CBD. References at the bottom of the page.
PTC effects
What PTC can do to you.
The effects described by the ANSM and the OFDT are nothing like a joint that's "a bit strong". They come on fast, can be violent, and hit several organs at once.
Mental
Delusional episodes, hallucinations, panic attacks, agitation, suicidal thoughts.
Neurological
Fainting, memory loss, loss of consciousness, seizures and, in severe cases, coma.
Heart
Tachycardia, chest pain, high blood pressure.
Digestive and other
Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, kidney damage, breathing difficulties.
Over the longer term, the OFDT describes tolerance, dependence and a prolonged withdrawal syndrome: intense cravings, irritability, shaking, insomnia, tachycardia. The ANSM speaks of severe addiction. If a session has gone wrong, our article Bad trip: what to do gives you the right reflexes, but if someone feels unwell after PTC, the priority is to call emergency services.
Spotting a dodgy product
The warning signs that should stop you.
- No molecule or strength on the label. A "cannabis" liquid that doesn't say what it contains is one to avoid.
- Names that promise to get you wrecked. "Pète ton crâne", "Buddha", "Spice", "ultra strong": they're selling you an effect, not a content.
- Bought off the radar. A bottle passed from hand to hand, bought on social media or outside the school gates.
- Sweet-style packaging. Neon vials and catchy drawings target the very young, not informed adults.
- No lab analysis. No certificate linked to the batch, no identifiable seller.
No home-made mixes. The ANSM warns against "DIY" e-liquids: adding a product to a cartridge multiplies the risk of overdose and interactions.
We cover the other vaping precautions in Vaping cannabinoids: what you need to know, and the legal framework in France in Legal THC vape: what the law says.
If something goes wrong
The right reflexes and useful numbers.
Stop straight away
At the slightest unexpected effect, stop vaping and stay with someone. Keep the product: it can be analysed.
Call for help
Fainting, loss of consciousness, seizures, delirium: call 112, the European emergency number, without waiting. In France, you can also dial 15 (SAMU) or 18.
Ask for support
To quit or talk it through in France: Drogues Info Service on 0 800 23 13 13, or a young users' clinic (consultation jeunes consommateurs), free and confidential for under-25s.
For a less serious symptom, a poison control centre can advise you; in France, the ANSM points to the Paris centre, on 01 45 42 59 59. Adverse effects can be reported on signalement.social-sante.gouv.fr.
On the legal side, in France, using controlled drugs is punishable by one year in prison and a €3,750 fine, with an on-the-spot criminal fine of €500 since 20 August 2026. A synthetic molecule that isn't yet listed by name isn't legal for all that: the list grows with every wave of bans.
Informed smoker
If you vape, know what you're vaping.
Golden High doesn't sell any synthetic cannabinoids. Our Delta-P range is CBDX-based: products under 0.3% THC, lab-tested, with an identified composition. That's the case with our Delta-P pods, such as the Super Gelato refillable pod and its 1 ml refill. It's not a promise of an effect: it's the guarantee that you know what's in the cartridge.
- Adults only. Our products are not intended for minors.
- Start low. A few puffs, then wait before taking more.
- Never before driving. And never with alcohol or other substances.
Your questions
What people ask us about PTC.
PTC drug: what is it exactly?
PTC, short for the French "Pète ton crâne", is a synthetic product sold mostly as an e-liquid. It contains lab-made synthetic cannabinoids, not THC or CBD.
Is PTC cannabis?
No. Synthetic cannabinoids act on the same receptors as THC, but they're different molecules, often far more potent. No plant goes into making them.
What are the effects of PTC?
The ANSM and the OFDT report hallucinations, panic attacks, tachycardia, vomiting, seizures, loss of consciousness and sometimes coma, as well as severe dependence with withdrawal.
Why is PTC dangerous?
The molecule changes from batch to batch, it's rarely stated, and the active dose varies enormously. With an e-liquid, there's no way of knowing how much you're taking.
Does PTC show up on a cannabis test?
Rapid cannabis screening tests don't detect synthetic cannabinoids, according to the ANSM and the OFDT. Specific lab analyses are needed.
Is PTC legal in France?
No. Many synthetic cannabinoids are classified as controlled drugs in France, and a molecule that isn't yet listed by name isn't legal for all that.
What should you do if someone feels unwell after PTC?
Stop immediately, don't stay alone, and call 112 in case of loss of consciousness, seizures or delirium (in France, 15 or 18 also work). Keep the product for analysis.
Who can help you quit PTC?
In France, Drogues Info Service, on 0 800 23 13 13, free and anonymous, or a young users' clinic for under-25s.
Sources
The references cited in this article.
- ANSM (2025). Vaping psychoactive substances (other than nicotine): riskier than you think (in French).
- ANSM and Anses (2025). Rise in poisonings caused by CBD products containing other substances (in French).
- OFDT. New synthetic products: state of knowledge (in French).
- ANSM (2024). The ANSM adds new cannabinoids to the list of controlled drugs (in French).
- Légifrance. Law no. 2026-798 of 18 August 2026 (on-the-spot criminal fine under Article L3421-1 of the French Public Health Code, in French).
- Drogues Info Service. Drogues Info Service: information and support, 0 800 23 13 13 (in French).
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