4-Methylethcathinone (4-MEC)
Legal Status
U.S. FEDERAL LAW #
Caution : All legal information should be verified through other sources. [see below]
U.S. FEDERAL LEGAL SUMMARY | |
4-Methylethcathinone | |
REGULATED | Yes |
STATUS | Scheduled |
SCHEDULE | Schedule I |
4-Methylethcathinone was emergency scheduled on March 7, 2014. See http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2014/fr0307_2.htm. Prior to this, 4-Methylethcathinone was unscheduled in the United States. There was at least one federal indictment (Apr 2012) for the importation of 1 kg of 4-MEC on the basis of 4-MEC being a federal Analogue of methcathinone.
There was one case of a business person being charged with selling the similar 4-methylmethcathinone/4-MMC (as 'bath salts') also on the basis of it being an Analogue of methcathinone. (See the WSAZ news story). The 4-MMC case ended with the defendant pleading guilty to a lesser charge not related to the Analogue Act: introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce (a charge under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, not the Controlled Substances Act).
There was one case of a business person being charged with selling the similar 4-methylmethcathinone/4-MMC (as 'bath salts') also on the basis of it being an Analogue of methcathinone. (See the WSAZ news story). The 4-MMC case ended with the defendant pleading guilty to a lesser charge not related to the Analogue Act: introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce (a charge under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, not the Controlled Substances Act).
U.S. STATE LAW #
Florida #
4-MEC is Schedule I in Florida, listed as Methylethcathinone. Added in 2011. See http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/1502/BillText/c2/PDF. (thanks q) (last updated Dec 4 2012)
Vermont #
Classified under "Depressant and stimulant drugs" (Title 18, Chapter 84, Section 4234) : Illegal to possess, distribute, etc. Added July 2012. See healthvermont.gov/regs/documents/regulated_drugs_emergency_rule_annotated.pdf and http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullsection.cfm?Title=18&Chapter=084&Section=04234. (Thanks DW) (last updated Jul 23, 2012)
Virginia #
Schedule I. http://www.mygov365.com/legislation/view/id/4f15545049e51b63146f1200/tab/overview/ : HB 508 Approved by Governor Apr 18, 2012 - Effective 7/1/12 and http://legiscan.com/gaits/text/631633. (Thanks NR) (last updated July 22, 2012)
If you have information about the legal status of this substance in any U.S. state, please let us know.
INTERNATIONAL LAW #
Brazil (Brasil) #
4-MEC was controlled in Brazil in February 2015, added to Lista F2. See http://portal.anvisa.gov.br/wps/content/Anvisa+Portal/Anvisa/Inicio/Medicamentos/Assunto+de+Interesse/Produtos+controlados/Listas+de+substancias+sujeitas+a+controle+especial+Brasil. (thanks r) (last updated Aug 29, 2015)
Finland #
4-MEC was banned in Finland in December 2014. A new government regulation was enacted in Finland that banned over 100 psychoactive chemicals. See Finland's Prohibited Psychoactive Substances: December 19, 2014. (last updated Dec 26, 2014)
Germany (Deutschland)#
4-MEC was added to Anlage II in January, 2012. See www.bundesrat.de/cln_236/nn_8336/SharedDocs/Drucksachen/2012/0301-400/317-12,templateId=raw,property=publicationFile.pdf/317-12.pdf. (thanks nr) (last updated Oct 15, 2012)
Hungary #
In January 2012, 4-methylethcathinone became controlled in Hungary. (unconfirmed) (thanks C) (last updated Jan 13 2012)
Poland #
An amendment to Polish drug law effective Jun 8, 2011 placed numerous research chemicals on the list of controlled substances, including 4-methylethcathinone. See http://www.infor.pl/dziennik-ustaw,rok,2011,nr,105.html (thanks surveilled) (last updated Aug 18, 2011).
United Kingdom (UK, Britain) #
4-Methylethcathinone is a class B drug, illegal to possess without the proper license or prescription, as of Apr 16, 2010. It is not specifically named in the law, but was was part of a general ban on cathinone derivatives. (last updated Aug 18, 2011)
If you have information about the legal status of this substance in any other country, please let us know.
CAUTION & DISCLAIMER #
Erowid legal information is a summary of data gathered from site visitors, government documents, websites, and other resources. We are not lawyers and can not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided here. We do our best to keep this information correct and up-to-date, but laws are complex and constantly changing. Laws may also vary from one jurisdiction to another (county, state, country, etc)...this list is not comprehensive.