I smoked that fake stuff for a couple of years. I started back when the original chemical was still legal, that was great! Then the government (DEA) stepped in and made it illegal to buy or own the active chemical. That's when the fake pot companies started experimenting with other chemicals, and the govt. chased them around and started making those illegal too (state level). That's when the bad stuff started happening, like seizures and ER visits and all that stuff you saw on the news. Seems some people's bodies don't agree with some of these chemicals, and some of them are now heavily addictive, and there's so many now you don't know what your buying. When I quit that stuff it was so strong to me that 2 hits and I'd be standing there staring at the ground and not have a clue about anything for a few minutes and then "snap out of it" like a light switch like nothing had ever happened.
It was too much for me.
I've switched jobs now and smoke the real stuff without too much worry. My company has a drug policy, but after hire they don't test unless you hurt yourself.
Price difference between the two: 3.5 grams of buds is $50. I think 5 gram bags of the fake stuff were running $45.