yellow2 → orange2 → red2 → brown2 → yellow2
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4-CMC
4-Chloromethcathinone
Clephedrone
4-CMC is a synthetic stimulant and entactogen of the substituted cathinone class. It has been sold online as a designer drug, often marketed as an alternative to mephedrone in regions where that substance was scheduled, reportedly producing broadly similar effects. Notably, 4-CMC is the cathinone analogue of 4-CMA, a compound associated with significant neurotoxicity, though it remains unclear whether 4-CMC carries the same risk.
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold~20 mg
Light30-50 mg
Moderate50-100 mg
Strong100+ mg
Subjective Effects
Legacy content. A statistically backed ontology from Mindstate Design Labs is coming soon.
4-CMC produces a stimulant experience broadly comparable to that of mephedrone, characterized by euphoria, a lift in mood, and a marked increase in energy, alertness, and sociability. Users typically become notably talkative and experience heightened libido alongside a reduced need for food and sleep. The experience carries a meaningful potential for negative shifts in temperament, with anxiety, moodiness, and aggressiveness reported, particularly with heavier or repeated use.
Physical
The body load is that of a classic cathinone stimulant: increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, raised body temperature, and sweating, accompanied by jaw clenching, itchiness, appetite suppression, and disturbed sleep.
Cardiovascular
Stimulation
Physical stimulation is prominent, producing energy, alertness, and a decreased need for sleep.
Uncomfortable
Cognitive
The headspace is energetic and socially disinhibited, dominated by euphoria, mood lift, and a strong drive toward conversation and interaction. This can shade into anxiety, irritability, and aggression, especially as the experience wears on.
Emotional
The emotional tone is predominantly euphoric and elevated, but can become unstable, tipping into anxiety, moodiness, or outright aggression.
Social
Visual
Visual effects are limited to hallucinations reported at the extremes of use rather than reliable dose-dependent visuals.
Auditory
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
4-CMC acts primarily as a releasing agent at the serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine transporters, with secondary activity as a reuptake inhibitor at these same targets. Its overall potency at these monoamine transporters has been reported to be comparable to that of mephedrone.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption & half-lifenot documented yetMetabolitesnone documented yet
Interactions
Interactions not written up yet
An unlisted combination is an unknown one, not a safe one. Check a dedicated combination chart before mixing.
Tolerance
Tolerance timelines are rules of thumb, not exact schedules, and vary widely between individuals and use patterns.
Cross Tolerance
Synthetic cathinones, Stimulants acting on monoamine transporters
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
ModerateClassified as habit-forming by harm reduction resources.
Toxicity
Central Nervous System
Mouse studies indicate neurotoxicity through mechanisms common to cathinones; however, the specific serotonergic neurotoxicity associated with the structurally similar para-chloromethamphetamine has not been observed with 4-CMC.
Cardiovascular
Acute cardiovascular effects including elevated blood pressure and tachycardia occur during intoxication, similar to effects seen with mephedrone.
Psychosis Risk
Visual and auditory hallucinations are listed among reported effects.
History & Culture
4-Chloromethcathinone (4-CMC), also known as clephedrone, is a synthetic cathinone that emerged on the designer drug market as an online research chemical. The compound gained prominence primarily as an alternative to mephedrone following that substance's scheduling in various countries. As…
Legality
International
UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 (Schedule II, recommended December 2019)
By Country
Illegal4
United StatesIllegalUnder United States federal law, 4-CMC is directly listed as a Schedule I controlled substance, effective December 17, 2025. The listing includes its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever those forms are possible within the specific chemical designation. Manufacture, distribution, import, export, research, chemical analysis, and possession are controlled, and unauthorized possession of any quantity is unlawful under the Controlled Substances Act.
ChinaIllegalChina lists 4-CMC as item 73 of the 2025 Catalogue of Non-Medicinal Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, under the exact name 4-chloromethcathinone (4-氯甲卡西酮). It has been controlled since 1 October 2015, and the applicable rules prohibit its production, trade, transport, use, storage, import, and export. Experimental research is permitted only under the governing regulations, while scientific or experimental uses, reference standards, and production intermediates are otherwise subject to separate provisions.
GermanyIllegalGesetz über den Verkehr mit Betäubungsmitteln (Betäubungsmittelgesetz – BtMG), Anlage I (zu § 1 Abs. 1)5678910
4-CMC is expressly listed in Anlage I of the BtMG as Clephedron (4-CMC, 4-Chlormethcathinon), making it a non-marketable narcotic drug. A BfArM licence for an Anlage I substance may be issued only exceptionally for scientific or other public-interest purposes. Under § 29(1) nos. 1 and 3 BtMG, unauthorized manufacture, trade, import, export, supply, sale, placing on the market, acquisition, and possession without written acquisition authorization are punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine.
SwedenIllegalFörordning (1992:1554) om kontroll av narkotika, bilaga 1; LVFS 2011:10, Förteckning I11121314151617
4-CMC is prohibited in Sweden and is listed by exact name in Förteckning I, which covers substances that normally have no medical use. The narcotics listing took effect on 5 April 2019, replacing its earlier designation as a good dangerous to health. Unauthorized possession, use, manufacture, sale, transfer, import, export, and related handling are criminal offences, while authorized handling remains possible for specified medical, scientific, particularly urgent public-benefit, and industrial purposes.
References
Source Pages
Citations
- 我国管制毒品目录（2026年7月更新，540种+三大类）. ga.sz.gov.cn (n.d.). https://ga.sz.gov.cn/SZJDZX/SZBMFW/content/post_12898420.html1
- 三部门联合发布最新版《非药用类麻醉药品和精神药品目录》. btgaj.xjbt.gov.cn (n.d.). https://btgaj.xjbt.gov.cn/c/2025-07-28/8428464.shtml1
- 麻醉药品和精神药品管理条例（第三次修订）. xzfg.moj.gov.cn (n.d.). https://xzfg.moj.gov.cn/front/law/detail?LawID=17441
- 非药用类麻醉药品和精神药品列管办法. gaj.panjin.gov.cn (n.d.). https://gaj.panjin.gov.cn/2015_10/08_00/content-235605.html1
- Gesetz über den Verkehr mit Betäubungsmitteln (Betäubungsmittelgesetz – BtMG), current consolidated text. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/BJNR106810981.html1
- BtMG Anlage I (zu § 1 Abs. 1) – nicht verkehrsfähige Betäubungsmittel. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/anlage_i.html1
- § 1 BtMG – Betäubungsmittel. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/__1.html1
- § 3 BtMG – Erlaubnis zum Verkehr mit Betäubungsmitteln. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/__3.html1
- § 29 BtMG – Straftaten. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/__29.html1
- Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz (NpSG), § 1 Anwendungsbereich. gesetze-im-internet.de (n.d.). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/npsg/BJNR261510016.html1
Further Reading
Blood Concentrations of 4-CMC in 15 Forensic Cases (PMC)
Grifell et al. 2017 - Patterns of Use and Toxicity of Para-halogenated Substituted Cathinones
Substance Search: 4-CMC
UNODC Critical Review Report: 4-CMC
UNODC Substance Details: 4-CMC- WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence: 4-Chloromethcathinone
- Wojcieszak et al. 2020 - Neurotoxicity Research on Synthetic Cathinones
Article Status
Step 1 · Automated synthesisAn autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins compiled this article's foundation from information published across the web.
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Recent changes7 human edits · latest
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24 January 2026
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
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