This is an unofficial archive of PsychonautWiki as of 2025-08-11T15:14:44Z. Content on this page may be outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate. Please refer to the original page for the most up-to-date information.
3-CMC has the potential to cause serious injury and death.
Ten deaths have been confirmed via biological samples from using this substance.[1] Six are from polydrug use (alcohol, opioids, synthetic cannabinoids and benzodiazepines). It is strongly discouraged to take higher doses of this substance or to insufflate (snort) it.
WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section.
DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.
3-CMC has been sold online on the research chemical market as a designer drug since 2013 in mainly European countries[3]. 3-CMC has been marketed as the legal successor of 3-MMC in the Netherlands since its ban in October 2021 [4].
Pharmacology
The pharmacology of 3-CMC has not been fully studied, however it is known to promote the release of dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin similar to other substituted methcathinones.[5][6]
Subjective effects
Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWikicontributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.
It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.
Physical effects
Stimulation - The stimulation is heavily increased when combined with alcohol, however, this is not recommended due to its potential for harm. Paradoxically, the stimulation may be less pronounced at higher doses.
Memory suppression - After a few doses, memory becomes impaired in fashion to the MDMA comedown, if more doses are ingested it can be hard to even remember what you are talking about mid sentence.
Confusion - This can be described as being "fried" and it can be hard to even form thoughts properly. This effect usually appears at higher dosage after the first or second peak has passed.
Low blood pressure - This effect is reported by some experience reports, the cathinone family's known vasoconstriction coupled with this can lead to numbness and pale face and hands.
Experience reports
Anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index include:
This toxicity and harm potential section is a stub.
As a result, it may contain incomplete or even dangerously wrong information! You can help by expanding upon or correcting it. Note: Always conduct independent research and use harm reduction practices if using this substance.
3-CMC's isomer 4-CMC is a known neurotoxin, and research shows that 3-CMC is neurotoxic in mice[7]. If 3-CMC's mechanism of action is inherently neurotoxic then damage to human health may be incurred even at moderate recreational doses. Anecdotal reports mention highly concerning cardiovascular and neurological symptoms after frequent or high-dose use, which seems to confirm this suspicion.
It is strongly advised to avoid this substance completely. Use excessive harm reduction practices if planning on using this substance, and avoid redosing.
As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it.
While 3-CMC is not controlled under the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, nor under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. it is subject to restrictive measures in 21 Member States of the European Union: Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Sweden.
China: Is considered a narcotic substance since 2015[citation needed]
France: As a derivative of cathinone with a halogen substitution on the phenyl group, 3-CMC is scheduled as a "stupéfiant", i.e. a recognized drug of abuse. It is illegal to possess, buy, sell or manufacture.[8]
The Netherlands: Since 2023-09-12, 3-CMC is classified as a "List 1" drug which makes it illegal.[9]
↑WRZESIEŃ, W., STANASZEK, R., ZUBA, D., BYRSKA, B. (2018). Clandestine laboratory producing mephedrone (4-MMC) and Clephedrone (4-CMC) – substance, identification and hazard analysis, 40, 287-309. http://www.forensicscience.pl/pfs/115_Wrzesien_m.pdf.
↑Odoardi S, Romolo FS, Strano-Rossi S (August 2016). "A snapshot on NPS in Italy: Distribution of drugs in seized materials analyzed in an Italian forensic laboratory in the period 2013-2015". Forensic Science International. 265: 116–20. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.01.037. PMID26874736.
↑National Center for Biotechnology Information (2022). PubChem Bioassay Record for AID 1224711, Source: ChEMBL. Retrieved January 16, 2022 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioassay/1224711.
↑National Center for Biotechnology Information (2022). PubChem Bioassay Record for AID 1224713, Source: ChEMBL. Retrieved January 16, 2022 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioassay/1224713.
↑Wojcieszak, Jakub & Kuczyńska, Katarzyna & Zawilska, Jolanta. (2020). Four Synthetic Cathinones: 3-Chloromethcathinone, 4-Chloromethcathinone, 4-Fluoro-α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone, and 4-Methoxy-α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone Produce Changes in the Spontaneous Locomotor Activity and Motor Performance in Mice with Varied Profiles. Neurotoxicity Research. 38. 10.1007/s12640-020-00227-8.
