2C-B (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine) is a phenethylamine psychedelic explicitly listed on federal Schedule I since the mid-1990s — unlike 4-AcO-DMT or 4-HO-MET, no Federal Analogue Act theory is required to prosecute it.
2C-B is a synthetic psychoactive compound belonging to the phenethylamine chemical family. Its full systematic chemical name is 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine. This molecular classification places 2C-B in a different chemical category than tryptamines such as psilocybin, DMT, and LSD.
Chemist Alexander Shulgin first synthesized and evaluated 2C-B in 1974. He published the initial synthesis and scientific description of the compound in the scientific literature in 1975. Shulgin later documented detailed chemical synthesis protocols, dosage ranges, and subjective user reports alongside his co-author Ann Shulgin in their 1991 book PiHKAL ("Phenethylamines i Have Known And Loved").
In illicit distribution channels, 2C-B has circulated under several distinct street names. Common nicknames include Nexus, Performax, Venus, Bromo, and Toonies. Readers exploring chemical categories can compare phenethylamines and tryptamines using our compound-identification quiz tool.
Under federal law in the United States, 2C-B is an illegal Schedule I controlled substance scheduled directly by name. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) places 2C-B on its official drug scheduling list pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The substance became federally controlled during the mid-1990s.
The federal classification is codified at 21 CFR § 1308.11, listing 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine under Schedule I hallucinogens with DEA Controlled Substance Code Number 7392. This explicit statutory listing contrasts with the legal footing of unscheduled novel compounds. Compounds covered in our 4-AcO-DMT guide and 4-HO-MET guide are not scheduled by name, requiring prosecution under the Federal Analogue Act (21 U.S.C. § 813).
Because federal statutes schedule 2C-B directly, prosecutors do not need to prove substantial similarity to an existing drug. State legal codes reflect this federal status across virtually every American jurisdiction. States generally control substances on the federal Schedule I list directly or through uniform controlled substances legislation, which you can track in our state-by-state legal status tool.
Reported oral doses of 2C-B range from 12 to 24 milligrams, with active effects lasting an average of 3.1 to 4.9 hours. All dosage and duration figures discussed here come from pharmacology literature and Alexander Shulgin's published notes rather than clinical trial data. Human responses to psychoactive phenethylamines vary.
In published notes, Shulgin documented a threshold oral dose of approximately 4 milligrams. A typical recreational dose is reported at about 20 milligrams. Subjective onset after oral ingestion occurs between 0.3 and 1.5 hours, which corresponds to roughly 20 to 90 minutes.
| Metric | Reported value | Source basis |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold dose | ~4 mg oral | Shulgin published notes |
| Dose range | 12–24 mg oral | Shulgin published notes |
| Typical recreational dose | ~20 mg oral | Shulgin published notes |
| Onset of effects | 0.3–1.5 hours (20–90 min) | Pharmacology literature |
| Total duration | 3.1–4.9 hours (under 5 hours) | Pharmacology literature |
| Elimination half-life | 1.2–2.5 hours | Pharmacology literature |
This duration is shorter than the 4-6 hour range typical of psilocybin mushrooms and synthetic prodrugs on our 4-AcO-DMT guide.
While both 2C-B and MDMA are Schedule I controlled substances, 2C-B acts as a visual psychedelic phenethylamine whereas MDMA produces empathogenic effects without classical visuals. Both compounds share a phenethylamine chemical core, but their subjective and physiological profiles diverge. For an evaluation of MDMA development and regulatory history, see our dedicated MDMA guide.
Per documentation for MDMA, oral MDMA effects begin in about 30 to 45 minutes and last about 3 to 6 hours. In comparison, 2C-B produces reported onset within 20 to 90 minutes and a total duration under 5 hours. MDMA is classified as an empathogen and entactogen with stimulant properties, while 2C-B produces sensory and visual alterations.
Institutional drug development creates another clear distinction between the two compounds. MDMA has been evaluated in FDA clinical trials (see our MDMA guide for the full regulatory history). No FDA-registered clinical trial currently uses 2C-B as a study drug, and commercial sponsors such as Compass Pathways, Usona, and Filament Health do not develop it.
| Criterion | 2C-B | MDMA |
|---|---|---|
| Primary chemical classification | Psychedelic phenethylamine | Empathogen and entactogen |
| Federal legal status | Schedule I (21 CFR § 1308.11) | Schedule I (21 CFR § 1308.11) |
| Classical visual effects | Reported in user evaluations | Not typically produced |
| Reported oral onset | 0.3–1.5 hours (20–90 min) | 30–45 minutes |
| Reported duration | 3.1–4.9 hours (roughly 3–5 hours) | 3–6 hours |
| Active clinical trial pipeline | No registered FDA clinical trials | Evaluated in FDA clinical trials (see MDMA guide) |
Primary risks associated with 2C-B involve psychiatric vulnerabilities, severe interactions with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and federal felony liability. Because no FDA-registered clinical trials evaluate 2C-B, modern medical literature lacks standardized toxicology data and controlled safety parameters. Individuals obtaining unregulated substances face unknown purity and variable potency.
Legal risks are equally severe. Because 2C-B is listed by name on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, unauthorized possession or distribution triggers direct federal felony penalties. State law enforcement agencies enforce parallel statutory prohibitions under state controlled substances acts.
2C-B is a federally scheduled synthetic phenethylamine with reported effects lasting under 5 hours, no accepted medical use, and no active clinical pipeline. At Mind Medicine Law, we track how statutory scheduling creates concrete legal boundaries for clinicians and patients.
This substance is not suitable for individuals seeking lawful clinical care or FDA-approved psychiatric therapy. Patients needing authorized treatment should discuss established medical pathways with licensed clinicians.
A formal rescheduling decision by the DEA or statutory reclassification by Congress, supported by FDA-authorized clinical trials, would be required to alter this assessment. Consult our state-by-state legal status tool to verify current state penalties before assessing any claims regarding 2C-B.
No, 2C-B is illegal under both federal law and state statutes across the United States. The DEA lists the chemical directly on Schedule I under 21 CFR § 1308.11(d). Manufacturing, distributing, or possessing the substance carries severe criminal penalties.
Yes, 2C-B is explicitly classified as a federal Schedule I controlled substance. Federal authorities placed the substance into Schedule I during the mid-1990s under DEA Controlled Substance Code Number 7392. This scheduling establishes that the federal government recognizes no accepted medical application and a high potential for abuse.
2C-B is a synthetic psychoactive compound from the phenethylamine class, systematically named 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine. Chemist Alexander Shulgin first synthesized the substance in 1974 and published its scientific description in 1975. Shulgin later documented its synthesis and dosage parameters in the 1991 book PiHKAL.
2C-B is scheduled directly by name on federal Schedule I, whereas 4-AcO-DMT is not explicitly listed on federal controlled substance schedules. Prosecuting 2C-B requires only proof of possession or distribution under 21 CFR § 1308.11. Prosecutions involving 4-AcO-DMT require the government to establish that the molecule is an analogue of psilocin under the Federal Analogue Act (21 U.S.C. § 813).
Standard workplace drug screenings do not detect 2C-B, but specialized forensic toxicology testing can identify the molecule. Typical five-panel and ten-panel urine immunoassay tests screen for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cocaine, opiates, amphetamines/methamphetamine, and phencyclidine (PCP). While standard workplace panels do not detect novel phenethylamines, targeted forensic methods like liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) can identify 2C-B.
No, 2C-B is not the same substance as MDMA, although both compounds share a phenethylamine backbone and federal Schedule I status. MDMA functions primarily as an empathogen and stimulant without producing classical visual hallucinations. In contrast, 2C-B produces sensory distortions and visual psychedelic effects typical of classical psychedelics.
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