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JWH-073

Naphthalen-1-yl-(1-butylindol-3-yl)methanone

Spice (product brand name containing JWH-073)

Psychoactive Class

Cannabinoid

Chemical Class

Naphthoylindole (synthetic cannabinoid)

JWH-073 is a synthetic cannabinoid of the naphthoylindole class.¹² It was among the first variations of JWH-018 to appear in commercially available smoking mixtures sold under the Spice brand.¹² Its effects are frequently described as cannabis-like but only to a limited degree, with certain aspects of the natural cannabis experience notably absent or distorted. It is typically administered by smoking.²

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Light3-5 mg

Moderate5-10 mg

Strong10+ mg

Duration

Onset30 seconds

Total2 hours

Subjective Effects

The experience broadly resembles that of cannabis, consistent with JWH-073's action as a cannabinoid receptor agonist, though the resemblance is only partial. Certain elements of the cannabis experience are absent entirely while others present in a somewhat distorted form, giving the state an incomplete or 'off' quality compared to natural cannabis. Despite these differences, the experience is generally considered pleasant enough to be worth repeating by those who use it, and animal studies strongly suggest its effects closely parallel those of THC in humans.

Reagent Testing

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

Marquis(MQ)

Liebermann(LB)

PROtestkit.eu

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

JWH-073 acts as a full agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors.³ It displays moderate selectivity for CB1, with approximately five-fold greater affinity at this subtype compared to CB2.⁴ Its CB1 binding affinity exceeds that of THC,⁴ while its affinity at CB2 is comparable to THC.³

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

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Moderate

Repeated engagement with a cannabis-like synthetic cannabinoid product is described, and Schedule 9 definitions cover substances that may be abused or misused.⁵

History & Culture

JWH-073 derives its name from John W. Huffman, the American organic chemist whose laboratory developed this and numerous other synthetic cannabinoid compounds as part of cannabinoid receptor research.⁶ The "JWH" prefix identifies compounds originating from Huffman's…

Legality

International

The current official INCB lists were inspected for the exact designation and structural names. JWH-073 is not listed in the Yellow List schedules, Green List schedules, or Red List Tables I and II. Similar but distinct JWH substances in the Green List do not establish scheduling of JWH-073.

By Country

United StatesIllegalSchedule I

Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act³²³³

Temporarily designated as Schedule I on March 1, 2011 through 76 FR 11075,³⁴ then permanently classified under Schedule I on July 9, 2012 via Section 1152 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act.³⁵

By state

All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five territories were reviewed against the federal baseline. 22 jurisdictions had source-backed mirror treatment; 33 remain research gaps. 1 divergent jurisdiction findings were independently upheld.

CaliforniaRestrictedsynthetic-cannabinoid offense

BrazilIllegalLista F2

Portaria SVS/MS nº 344, de 12 de maio de 1998, Lista F2, as amended by RDC nº 63, de 17 de outubro de 2014¹¹

JWH-073 is listed in Brazil's Lista F2 as JWH-073 or Naftalen-1-il(1-butilindol-3-il) metanona. Lista F2 is the schedule of psychotropic substances whose use is prohibited in Brazil, so JWH-073 is prohibited.

DenmarkIllegalListe B nr. 245

Bekendtgørelse om euforiserende stoffer (BEK nr. 405 af 26/03/2026)¹³

JWH-073 is expressly listed in List B, item 245, of Denmark's Order on Euphoriant Substances. List B substances may only be used for medical and scientific purposes; import, export, supply, receipt, manufacture, processing, possession, and other activities are subject to the Order's authorisation rules.

IndonesiaIllegalNarkotika Golongan I

Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Nomor 15 Tahun 2025 tentang Perubahan Penggolongan Narkotika¹⁷¹⁸

The official Ministry of Health record marks Permenkes No. 15 of 2025 as ‘Berlaku’ and records promulgation on 28 November 2025. Its annex lists JWH-073 as item 113 in the List of Narcotics Group I.

JapanIllegalNarcotic · Article 1 item 104

麻薬、麻薬原料植物、向精神薬、麻薬向精神薬原料等を指定する政令（平成2年政令第238号）²¹²²

The current MHLW consolidated text designates the substance in Article 1, item 104 as a narcotic. MHLW's 2013 implementation notice identifies that chemical name as JWH-073 and states that the amendment took effect on 1 March 2013.

New ZealandBannedCitation needed

Sale prohibited as of May 8, 2014.²⁵

South AfricaIllegalSchedule 2 Part III

Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, Schedule 2, Part III, as substituted by Drugs and Drug Trafficking Amendment Act 14 of 2022²⁷²⁸

JWH-073 is expressly listed in Schedule 2, Part III as an undesirable dependence-producing substance. The Act prohibits the use, possession, and dealing in drugs subject to its statutory exceptions; the official Act page identifies Act 14 of 2022 as an amendment to the principal Act.

TurkeyBannedCitation needed

Sale prohibited as of January 7, 2011.³⁰

AustraliaIllegalSchedule 9

Poisons Standard June 2021⁹

Prohibited substance under the Poisons Standard since July 8, 2011. Schedule 9 classification restricts manufacture, possession, sale, and use except when required for approved medical or scientific research, or for analytical, teaching, or training purposes with authorization from Commonwealth and/or State or Territory Health Authorities.¹⁰

CanadaIllegalSchedule II controlled

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Schedule II, item 2¹²

JWH-073 is expressly listed as 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole under Schedule II's synthetic cannabinoid receptor type 1 agonists. The Act prohibits possession of a Schedule II substance except as authorized by regulations, and also prohibits its trafficking, import or export, and production except as authorized.

GermanyRestrictedAnlage II

Betäubungsmittelgesetz¹⁴¹⁵

Classified under the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (Narcotics Act).¹⁶ Was initially unregulated and appeared as a substitute compound in Spice products following Germany's prohibition of JWH-018 in 2009, before being subsequently controlled.

IrelandIllegal (analog/blanket ban)Schedule 1 structural derivative

Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (Controlled Drugs) (Declaration) Order 2010¹⁹²⁰

JWH-073 is covered as a controlled drug by the Order's structural definition for substances derived from 3-(1-naphthoyl)indole with an alkyl substitution at the indole nitrogen. The associated Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations 2010 place that structural group in Schedule 1. The Order also covers stereoisomers, esters, ethers, salts, and preparations containing a covered substance.

NetherlandsIllegal (analog/blanket ban)Synthetic cannabinoid

Opiumwet, lijst IA²³²⁴

JWH-073 falls within the Opiumwet's lijst IA structural group for cannabimimetica/synthetic cannabinoids. Article 2a prohibits importing, exporting, preparing, processing, selling, supplying, transporting, possessing, and manufacturing a substance in that group or a preparation containing it.

NorwayIllegalNarkotikalisten

Forskrift om narkotika (narkotikaforskriften)²⁶

JWH-073 is listed in Norway's narcotics list under the narcotics regulations. Its unauthorized possession, production, supply, import and export are prohibited.

SwedenIllegalJWH-073

Förordning (1992:1554) om kontroll av narkotika, bilaga 1²⁹

JWH-073 is listed in Annex 1 to Sweden's Ordinance (1992:1554) on the Control of Narcotics. Section 2 of that ordinance provides that the substances in Annex 1 are regarded as narcotics under the Narcotic Drugs Punishments Act.

United KingdomIllegalClass B drug

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2, Part II, paragraph 1(c)³¹

JWH-073 is 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole. The current consolidated Class B definition covers a compound structurally derived from 3-(1-naphthoyl)indole by substitution at the indole nitrogen with an alkyl substituent; JWH-073's butyl group is such a substituent. This direct current provision establishes the status without relying on the 2019 JWH-018-related amendment.

References

Source Pages

Citations

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