Hexedrone

Hexedrone, 2-(methylamino)-1-phenylhexan-1-one, falls within the synthetic-cathinone structural class in Lista F2 of Portaria SVS/MS nº 344, de 12 de maio de 1998. This structural-class control has applied since 19 September 2017. Production, manufacture, import, export, commerce, and use are prohibited, except for activities by authorized bodies and institutions conducted strictly for medical and scientific research; unauthorized acquisition, possession, storage, transport, sale, delivery, and supply are also controlled. The structural-class provision excludes substances that are components of medicines registered by Anvisa, those medicines, and substances specifically listed elsewhere in Portaria SVS/MS nº 344.

Hexedrone falls within the generic structural definition for 2-phenethylamine-derived compounds in Anlage 1 Nr. 1 of the Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz (NpSG), which has applied since 26 November 2016; the original government bill names Hexedron by its chemical name as a covered example. The NpSG prohibits trade, placing on the market, manufacture, import, export, transit, acquisition, possession, and administration to another person, subject to its statutory exclusions and recognized commercial, industrial, scientific, and official-use exceptions. Under § 4(1), trade, placing on the market, administration to another person, and manufacture or movement into Germany for the purpose of placing on the market are punishable by up to three years' imprisonment or a fine. Simple acquisition and possession are prohibited but are not standalone criminal offences under § 4, although the substance may be seized, held, and destroyed.

Hexedrone is not named individually in the current schedules, but its N-methyl and C4H9 substitutions place it within the generic cathinone entry in Annex 6, Verzeichnis e, number 1, which has applied since 1 December 2011. Verzeichnis e substances are subject to the control measures applicable to Verzeichnis a narcotics, and unauthorized cultivation, manufacture, import, export, storage, use, or placing on the market is punishable by up to three years' imprisonment or a monetary penalty. For cathinones used industrially by a company holding a Verzeichnis e operating licence, chapters 5 and 6 of the BetmKV do not apply and import or export permits are waived for quantities up to 100 g; this limited provision does not create a categorical scientific-use exemption.

Hexedrone falls within the generic structural definition in paragraph 1(aa) of Part II of Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and is therefore a Class B drug. The definition has applied to hexedrone since 16 April 2010 because its alkyl extension at the 3-position and methyl substitution at the nitrogen atom are expressly covered. Possession, production, supply, import, and export are prohibited, subject to applicable regulations, licences, and defences.