3-MEC

3-methylethcathinone (3-MEC) is controlled as the positional isomer of 4-methyl-N-ethylcathinone (4-MEC). Section 1308.11(d) includes position isomers within its Schedule I scope, and item 59 lists 4-MEC. DEA's permanent scheduling rule for 4-MEC and its optical, positional, and geometric isomers took effect on March 1, 2017.

Argentina expressly lists 3-MEC in Annex I of Decree 560/2019, as replaced by Decree 122/2026, under the name 3-metiletcatinona and the synonyms 3-MEC and 3-metil-N-etilcatinona. Article 2 classifies Annex I substances as estupefacientes, and Law 23.737 criminalizes unauthorized production, sale, supply, and possession.

3-MEC is not separately named in the federal controlled-drug table. Schedule 1 of the Criminal Code Regulations 2019 lists 4-methylethcathinone, while section 301.9 of the Criminal Code defines a structural isomer having the same constituent groups as a drug analogue. Section 301.1 treats a drug analogue of a listed controlled drug as a controlled drug.

Austria's NPSV covers every compound derivable from an amino-phenyl-ethanone core, including compounds with additional chemical structures as substituents; the annex illustrates the category with 2-amino-1-phenylpropan-1-one. 3-MEC falls within that class, while the NPSG criminal provision is directed at profit-motivated manufacture, import, export, transfer, or supply intended for psychoactive use rather than creating an unqualified personal-possession offence.

Belgium's Annex IVa controls cathinone derivatives through a generic structure rather than an exhaustive list. Its definition permits an ethyl group on nitrogen and a methyl substituent at any position on the phenyl ring, thereby encompassing 3-MEC; unauthorized import, export, manufacture, possession, sale, supply, and acquisition require authorization under the decree.

3-MEC is not individually named in Anvisa's current schedule, but its N-ethyl 3-methyl cathinone structure falls within the generic synthetic-cathinone class in List F2(c). That class covers 2-aminopropan-1-one structures bearing a benzene ring, permits alkyl substitution on the ring and nitrogen, and is part of the list of psychotropic substances whose use is proscribed in Brazil. Portaria SVS/MS nº 344/1998 prohibits the production, manufacture, import, export, trade, and use of proscribed substances, apart from narrowly authorized medical or scientific research.

3-MEC is controlled as an amphetamine analogue under Schedule I, item 19 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Its structure, 2-(ethylamino)-1-(3-methylphenyl)propan-1-one, is the beta-keto, 3-methyl analogue of item 19's expressly listed N-ethylamphetamine. The Act defines an analogue as a substance with a substantially similar chemical structure. Health Canada states that almost all synthetic cathinones are controlled under Schedule I and identifies other N-ethyl cathinones under item 19.

3-MEC is not separately named in Chile's controlled-substance list. Decree No. 1,524 adds 2-ethylamino-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1-propanone (methylethcathinone, 4-MEC) to article 1 of Supreme Decree No. 867, whose article 1 also covers the unexcepted isomers of every listed substance. 3-MEC is the 3-methyl positional isomer of that expressly listed 4-methyl compound and is therefore covered as an article 1 psychotropic substance.

3-MEC is expressly controlled as a psychotropic substance under Annex 4 of Government Regulation No. 463/2013 Coll. The current consolidated schedule names it as 3-Methylethkathinon (3-MEC) and identifies the compound as 2-(ethylamino)-1-(3-methylfenyl)propan-1-on.

Denmark controls 3-MEC through List B item 292, whose 4-MEC entry expressly covers the 2-, 3-, and 4-methyl-N-ethylcathinone isomers. List B substances are limited to medical and scientific use; import, export, sale, purchase, receipt, manufacture, processing, and possession are otherwise prohibited unless an authorized exception applies.

France classifies as narcotics cathinone-derived molecules bearing an alkyl substituent on the phenyl ring and an alkyl substituent on nitrogen, together with their salts and stereoisomers. 3-MEC has the cathinone core, a 3-methyl ring substituent, and an N-ethyl substituent, so it falls within this generic classification.

Germany's NpSG group 1 expressly includes compounds with a cathinone core and permits alkyl substitution on the aromatic ring and an alkyl group of up to six carbons on nitrogen. Those structural terms encompass 3-MEC, and section 3 prohibits unauthorized trade, manufacture, import, export, acquisition, possession, and administration of a covered new psychoactive substance.

Ireland designates the Schedule 1 cathinone class as controlled drugs for which manufacture, supply, distribution, and possession are generally unlawful except for licensed research or other specified purposes. The generic definition covers 3-MEC because it permits alkyl substitution on the phenyl ring and alkyl substitution on the nitrogen of the 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone structure.

Israel's First Schedule includes cathinone, its isomers, and its structural derivatives unless expressly excluded. 3-MEC is 3-methylethcathinone, with the government compound record identifying it as 2-(ethylamino)-1-(3-methylphenyl)propan-1-one, so it falls within the schedule's structural-derivative provision. No name-specific listing is required for this generic coverage.

3-MEC is 3-methyl-N-ethylcathinone, chemically 2-(ethylamino)-1-(m-tolyl)propan-1-one. Italy's Tabella I covers structural analogues derived from 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone through one or more substitutions on the aromatic ring, nitrogen, or terminal carbon. The 3-MEC structure makes a ring-methyl substitution and an N-ethyl substitution on that scaffold, so it falls within this generic controlled category even though it is not named individually.

3-MEC falls within Japan's generic synthetic-cathinone designation because Article 1(361) permits an ethylamino group at the 2-position and a methyl substituent at the 3-position of the phenyl ring. The current Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare list states that manufacture, import, sale, display, possession, and use of designated substances are generally prohibited except for scientific purposes. The generic definition also covers salts.

The Netherlands' List IA group 1 includes substances with the cathinone base structure and permits methyl substitution on the phenyl ring and ethyl substitution on nitrogen. Article 2a prohibits import, export, preparation, sale, supply, transport, possession, and manufacture of substances in a listed group, and the List IA regime entered into force on 1 July 2025.

As of 23 August 2026, the current consolidated Norwegian Narcotics Regulation expressly lists 3-MEC in Narkotikalisten, marks it ‘Forbudt etter § 5’, and identifies its chemical designation as 3-metyl-N-etylkatinon. Section 4 makes Narkotikalisten and its substance-specific provisions part of the regulation. Section 5 prohibits manufacture, acquisition, distribution, import, export, storage, possession, and use of listed narcotics that refer to § 5, subject to the regulation's stated exceptions. The consolidated instrument reports that it was last amended by FOR-2026-05-15-892 effective 1 June 2026.

3-MEC is controlled in Poland as a group II-NPS cathinone derivative rather than through an individual entry in the statutory schedule. The Chief Sanitary Inspectorate's open list identifies 2-(ethylamino)-1-(3-methylphenyl)propan-1-one as 3-MEC (3-methylethcathinone) and classifies it as II-NPS, while Annex 3 part 3 covers cathinone derivatives with the corresponding ring alkyl and nitrogen alkyl substitutions. Article 62b of the Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction penalizes possession of new psychoactive substances contrary to the Act.

3-MEC is 2-(ethylamino)-1-(3-methylphenyl)propan-1-one, while Portugal's Table II-A lists 4-MEC as 2-(ethylamino)-1-(4-methylphenyl)propan-1-one. These substances are positional isomers, and Table II-A expressly covers isomers of listed substances whenever they can exist under a specific chemical designation unless expressly excluded. 3-MEC is therefore controlled through the table's isomer clause rather than by an exact-name listing.

Russia's List I prohibits circulation of cathinone and its derivatives unless a derivative appears as its own entry. UNODC identifies 3-MEC as 2-ethylamino-1-(3-methylphenyl)propan-1-one; its ethyl and meta-methyl substitutions satisfy Note 6's formal-substitution and carbon-count rule, so it is covered as a cathinone derivative.

Singapore's First Schedule defines a Class A cathinone group through structural modification of 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone. The definition permits alkyl substitution on the phenyl ring and alkyl substitution at nitrogen, so it encompasses 3-MEC and subjects it to the Act's Class A controlled-drug regime.

3-MEC (3-methylethcathinone) is covered as an undesirable dependence-producing substance under Part III of Schedule 2 to the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992. Part III lists cathinone and methcathinone and extends the list to all chemically related homologues that incorporate a similar structural fragment or exhibit similar pharmacodynamic properties; UNODC identifies 3-MEC as the synthetic cathinone 2-ethylamino-1-(3-methylphenyl)propan-1-one. Sections 4 and 5 prohibit unauthorized use, possession, and dealing, subject to the Act's medical and permit exceptions.

South Korea covers 3-MEC through the structural analogue provision in Annex 3, item 22 of the Narcotics Control Act Enforcement Decree, which places methcathinone and its analogues in the Article 2(3)(a) psychotropic-substance schedule. The 3-MEC structure, 2-(ethylamino)-1-(3-methylphenyl)propan-1-one, matches the provision's N-alkylamino, substituted-phenyl, alkyl, and oxygen positions, so it is controlled as a methcathinone analogue; the provision's exclusions for separately scheduled analogues and authorized medicines remain applicable.

As of 23 August 2026, the current official consolidation of LVFS 2011:10 incorporates amendments through HSLF-FS 2026:26 and expressly names 3-MEC as 2-(etylamino)-1-(3-metylfenyl)propan-1-on. Its aligned classification is Swedish List I with no international-list designation. The regulation describes List I as substances that normally have no medical use. The current Ordinance (1992:1554) independently lists the same chemical name and abbreviation in Annex 1, and § 2 provides that Annex 1 substances are narcotics under the Narcotic Drugs Punishments Act. The Act (1992:860) on Control of Narcotic Drugs limits import, export, manufacture, offering for sale, transfer, and possession to specified authorized purposes and persons, while § 1 of the Narcotic Drugs Punishments Act criminalizes unauthorized handling, possession, and use. This establishes prohibited status subject to the statutory authorization exceptions; it does not establish an initial scheduling date for 3-MEC.

Switzerland's List e covers substances structurally derived from 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone by alkyl substitution on the phenyl ring and alkyl substitution on nitrogen, subject to stated exclusions. 3-MEC meets both structural conditions and is therefore controlled as a raw material or product with presumed narcotic-like effect, with the ordinance's stated industrial-use exception.

EUDA identifies 3-MEC as 2-(ethylamino)-1-(3-methylphenyl)propan-1-one within its cathinone framework. Turkish Penal Code Article 188 prohibits unauthorized manufacture, import, export, sale, supply, transport, storage, purchase, acceptance, and possession of narcotic or stimulant substances in the trafficking context. Law No. 7445 Article 17 expressly adds synthetic cathinones and their derivatives to Article 188(4)(a), making Article 188 penalties one half higher when the substance falls in that family; 3-MEC is covered by the family wording rather than named individually.

Ukraine controls 3-MEC through the derivative clause in Table I, List No. 2 of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 770. Ethcathinone is expressly listed there as 2-(ethylamino)-1-phenylpropan-1-one, and 3-MEC is its ring-methyl derivative. The list also includes derivatives of listed psychotropic substances and identifies List No. 2 as especially dangerous psychotropic substances whose circulation is prohibited.

3-MEC falls within the generic cathinone definition for compounds derived from 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone by phenyl-ring alkyl substitution and nitrogen alkyl substitution, subject to the provision's named exclusions.

The current annex to Decree 1130/2014 expressly lists 3-MEC, including its chemical identity, as a psychoactive substance prohibited from the consumer market. Decree 650/2026 replaced the annex as it stood in Decree 1101/2025 and entered into force on 10 July 2026. Under section 5(2) of the Narcotics Act, manufacture, import into Finland, storage, offering for sale, and transfer are prohibited, subject to statutory research and industrial-use exceptions. The cited provisions do not establish a general prohibition on possession or use and define this category separately from narcotic drugs.