Not yet reviewed — this article is pending editorial review by Lyrea.

AB-FUBINACA

Ab-fubi

Psychoactive Class

Cannabinoid

Chemical Class

Indazolecarboxamide (synthetic cannabinoid)

AB-FUBINACA is a synthetic cannabinoid of the indazolecarboxamide class.¹ Originally developed by Pfizer in 2009¹ as an analgesic, it was never pursued for human use and first surfaced in synthetic cannabinoid blends in Japan in 2012²¹. It is a highly potent cannabinoid receptor agonist,³ and its extreme potency³—combined with its widespread inclusion in unregulated herbal blends¹—poses significant overdose risk, with fatalities reported.

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Threshold~0.25 mg

Light0.25-0.5 mg

Moderate0.5-1.5 mg

Strong1.5-3 mg

Heavy3+ mg

Subjective Effects

Effects vary widely by individual, dose, and context.

Forked from Subjective Effect Documentation work

by Josie KinsSeptember 2015.

Reagent Testing

Expected colorimetric results for common reagent tests. Colors show reaction change over 1–2 minutes.

Mecke(ME)

Marquis(MQ)

No reaction

Mandelin(MD)

No reaction

Liebermann(LB)

No reaction

PROtestkit.eu

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

AB-FUBINACA acts as a potent agonist at both major cannabinoid receptors, with notably high affinity and potency at CB1 (Ki of 0.9 nM⁴, EC50 of 1.8 nM⁵). It also binds CB2, though with lower affinity (Ki of 23.2 nM). Its pronounced CB1 activity at sub-nanomolar concentrations underlies its extremely high potency relative to many other cannabinoid receptor ligands.

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.

Check

TripSit

Tolerance

Cross Tolerance

Cannabinoids (both synthetic and plant-derived)

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Low

Classified as habit-forming. Psychological dependence may develop with regular use, similar to other synthetic cannabinoids.⁶⁷

Toxicity

Lethal Dosage

Its extremely high potency and inclusion in synthetic cannabinoid blends make it dangerous, and it has caused death in overdose, with use linked to hospitalizations and fatalities. In an August 2018 event in New Haven, Connecticut, over 100 people required emergency transport after using synthetic cannabis containing AB-FUBINACA, with several in critical or life-threatening condition; no deaths resulted from that incident, and first responders attributed those overdoses to opiate adulterants.

History & Culture

AB-FUBINACA was initially synthesized by Pfizer in 2009 during research into novel analgesic compounds.⁸ The pharmaceutical company never advanced the substance to human clinical trials, and it was subsequently abandoned as a potential medication.…

Legality

International

AB-FUBINACA is included in Schedule II of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It was placed under international control in 2020.

By Country

United StatesIllegalSchedule I (DEA drug code 7012)

Controlled Substances Act; 21 CFR 1308.11(d)³⁵

AB-FUBINACA is expressly listed as a Schedule I hallucinogenic substance in 21 CFR 1308.11(d)(53), with DEA drug code 7012.

AustriaIllegalSuchtgift

Suchtgiftverordnung, Anhang IV.1¹³

AB-FUBINACA is expressly listed in Anhang IV.1 of the Suchtgiftverordnung. Section 2(2) of that regulation treats substances listed under IV.1 as Suchtgifte under § 2(2) Suchtmittelgesetz, so it is subject to Austria's narcotic-drug controls.

CanadaIllegalSchedule II

Schedule II, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act¹⁵

AB-FUBINACA is listed in Schedule II of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act as a synthetic cannabinoid receptor type 1 agonist. The Act makes unauthorized possession, production, trafficking, importation, and exportation of Schedule II substances offences.

DenmarkIllegalListe B no. 3

Bekendtgørelse om euforiserende stoffer, BEK nr. 405 af 26/03/2026, Liste B, nr. 3¹⁶

AB-FUBINACA is expressly listed as no. 3 on Liste B of the Danish order. Liste B substances may only be used for medical and scientific purposes; the order subjects their import, export, manufacture, trade, receipt, and possession to its permit and certificate rules.

GermanyRestrictedAnlage II

Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG), Anlage II¹⁸¹⁹

AB-FUBINACA ist in Anlage II des Betäubungsmittelgesetzes als verkehrsfähiges, aber nicht verschreibungsfähiges Betäubungsmittel aufgeführt. Der Umgang, einschließlich Herstellung, Handel, Ein- und Ausfuhr, Abgabe, Veräußerung, sonstigem Inverkehrbringen und Erwerb, bedarf grundsätzlich einer Erlaubnis des Bundesinstituts für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte nach § 3 Absatz 1 BtMG.

JapanIllegalNarcotic

Narcotics, Narcotic Raw Materials Plants, Psychotropics and Narcotic and Psychotropic Raw Materials Designation Order (Cabinet Order No. 238 of 1990), art. 1(10)²⁴²⁵²⁶

AB-FUBINACA is a narcotic under Article 1(10) of the current Designation Order, which names its chemical substance and salts. The MHLW Controlled Substances List dated 12 December 2024 identifies AB-FUBINACA as category N, meaning Narcotic. MHLW's 8 July 2020 notice says that it was then a designated drug, but became a narcotic on the amended order's commencement and was no longer a designated drug.

NorwayIllegalP II

Forskrift om narkotika (narkotikaforskriften) (FOR-2013-02-14-199)²⁸

AB-FUBINACA is listed by name in chapter 1 as a P II substance. Its entry is marked "Forbudt etter § 5" (prohibited under section 5), so it is prohibited in Norway.

SingaporeIllegalClass A controlled drug

Misuse of Drugs Act 1973, First Schedule (Class A Drugs, paragraph 21(18))³¹

Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 places AB-FUBINACA in the First Schedule as a controlled drug. It is expressly named in Class A Drugs, paragraph 21(18), by its chemical name and the alias AB-FUBINACA. Paragraph 21 also covers salts and stereoisomeric forms of its listed compounds, as well as preparations or products containing them.

ThailandIllegalCategory I

Table of Controlled Psychotropic Substances under the Narcotics Code, Category I³³³⁴

Thailand's FDA current controlled-substances table expressly lists AB-FUBINACA in Category I. The table identifies the controlled psychotropic-substance categories as being under the Narcotics Code. Thai FDA describes Category I psychotropic substances as having no medical use and a high likelihood or potential for abuse.

AustraliaRestrictedSchedule 4 · Item 14AA

Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, regulation 5 and Schedule 4 item 14AA¹²

Federal border-control finding only: importation is prohibited unless the regulation 5 licence, permission, production, timing and quantity requirements are met. This entry does not establish an export restriction or any domestic Australian legal status.

BrazilIllegalAB-FUBINACA

RDC ANVISA nº 999, de 24 de novembro de 2025¹⁴

AB-FUBINACA is expressly named at item 74 of Lista F2 in RDC ANVISA nº 999/2025. The resolution labels Lista F as substances of prohibited use in Brazil and Lista F2 as psychotropic substances; its F2 addendum also controls the listed substances’ salts and isomers where their existence is possible.

ChinaControlledCitation needed

Classified as a controlled substance since October 2015 under national drug control regulations. Manufacturing, trafficking, and possession are subject to legal penalties.

FinlandBannedCitation needed

Scheduled in a government decree on psychoactive substances prohibited from the consumer market, effective 19 October 2017. Production, import, sale, and possession for sale are prohibited.¹⁷

IrelandIllegalSchedule 1 controlled drug

S.I. No. 176/2022, Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (Controlled Drugs) (Declaration) Order 2022; S.I. No. 210/2022, Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations 2022; S.I. No. 211/2022, Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (Controlled Drugs) (Designation) Order 2022, as amended by S.I. No. 406/2025^20212223

Ireland declares AB-FUBINACA to be a controlled drug under S.I. No. 176/2022. It is listed in Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 as substituted by S.I. No. 210/2022, and in the Schedule 1 drugs designated under section 13(1) by S.I. No. 211/2022. The designation order states that manufacture, production, preparation, sale, supply, distribution and possession of its Schedule 1 drugs are unlawful except for research or other specified special purposes; S.I. No. 406/2025 subsequently amends that Schedule by insertions without removing AB-FUBINACA.

NetherlandsIllegalLijst I

Opiumwet, lijst I (artikel 2)²⁷

AB-FUBINACA is expressly listed in lijst I of the Opiumwet under its chemical name. Article 2 prohibits importing or exporting, preparing, processing, selling, supplying, transporting, possessing, and manufacturing lijst I substances, subject to statutory exemptions and exemptions granted under the Act.

PhilippinesIllegalSchedule II psychotropic

Republic Act No. 9165, §§ 3(j), 93; Dangerous Drugs Board, Updated Lists of Scheduled Controlled Substances (6 July 2025)²⁹³⁰

The Dangerous Drugs Board's current list places AB-FUBINACA in Schedule II of the 1971 Convention and labels it ‘New 2020.’ Republic Act No. 9165 defines dangerous drugs to include substances in the Convention schedules and gives the Board power to add drugs to that list. Unauthorised importation, sale, manufacture, and possession of dangerous drugs are penalised under the Act.

SpainRestrictedLista II

Real Decreto 2829/1977, anexo 1, lista II³²

AB-FUBINACA figura expresamente en la lista II del anexo 1 del Real Decreto 2829/1977, en su texto consolidado vigente. La fabricación, tráfico e importación o exportación de las sustancias de las listas II–IV están sujetos a autorización y controles; la dispensación por farmacias de la sustancia requiere fórmula magistral prescrita en receta médica.

References

Source Pages

Citations

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Not yet reviewed — this article is pending editorial review by Lyrea.

AB-FUBINACA

Ab-fubi

Psychoactive Class

Cannabinoid

Chemical Class

Indazolecarboxamide (synthetic cannabinoid)