This commentary is a look at the implications of the British "Misuse of Phenethylamines" law which became law in the United Kingdom in 2002. The text of the law can be found here.

A methoxy group is the methyl ether of an hydroxyl group, as such 5-MeO-DMT is a class A drug because its the methyl ether of bufotenine and 5-MeO-DiPT is also a class A drug because it's the methyl ether of 5-OH-DiPT itself completely covered by the catch all tryptamine clause. 5-MeO-AMT on the other hand is not covered because of the alpha methyl group. Basically any tryptamine which is structured after the following patterns is illegal in the UK :


This also includes tryptamine where the OR3 function is on the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th position.

Regarding phenethylamines, as of Febuary 2002 every single PEA described in PiHKAl as well as many variations not listed in PiHKAL are illegal in the UK because of the following additions to the law. A new catch-all phenethylamine clause which covers most known active PEA's. In particular this clause covers mescaline analogues, DOx, 2C-x, 2C-T-x, MMDA analogues, MDMA analogues TMA's and many others as well. the clause is:

"any compound (not being methoxyphenamine or a compound for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (a) above) structurally derived from phenethylamine, an N-alkylphenethylamine, alpha-methylphenethylamine, an N-alkyl-alpha-methylphenethylamine, alpha-ethylphenethylamine, or an N-alkyl-alpha-ethylphenethylamine by substitution in the ring to any extent with alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenedioxy or halide substitutents, whether or not further substituted in the ring by one or more other univalent substituents;"

The law includes a systematic explicit addition of every single PEA's found in PiHKAL that isn't covered by the aforementioned clause on the list of class A drugs.

In particular:

1. PEA substituted on the nitrogen of the sidechain with a subsituent other than alkyl (FLEA & the HOTs, MDAL, etc...)
2. PEA's substituted on the beta carbon (all the BOx,etc...)
3. PEA's with divalent substituents on the benzene ring (F-22, 2C-G-x,etc...)
4. Phentermine derivates

This revision has been skillfully designed so that not a single item of PiHKAL can escape to the law. In any case all the PEAs on the RC market are all covered by the catch all clause.