2C-B (Nexus) - The Law

The Law

Possession of 2C-B is illegal in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. 2C-B is also considered an illegal substance in Japan and various European countries, including France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden.

One key fact every reader should know about 2C-B is that it is an illicit drug: it cannot, under any circumstances, be used legally. It is considered unsafe even when taken under medical supervision (and it cannot be administered legally by anyone, including physicians).

In the United States, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970 called for all federally regulated drug substances to be categorized into one of five schedules. These schedules are based on a substance's medicinal value, possible harmfulness, and potential for abuse and addiction. Schedule I is reserved for the most dangerous drugs that have no recognized medical use. 2C-B is a Schedule I drug. "Once a drug has been designated a Schedule I Controlled Substance, it becomes very difficult for researchers to obtain permission to study that drug," explained Gahlinger. That is one of the reasons why "very little is known about… 2C-B."

A drug's schedule plays a major role in determining penalties for illegal possession or sale of the drug. In the United States, a person convicted of possessing and/or selling a Schedule I drug such as 2C-B can face a lengthy prison term and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. Repeat offenders receive even harsher punishment. The United Kingdom regulates 2C-B under the Medicines Act. In Canada, 2C-B is a scheduled drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Japan's Health and Welfare Ministry ruled the drug had no legitimate medical uses and banned it in 1998 under the Narcotics Control Law. In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that 2C-B be placed under international control because its use poses a "substantial" public health and social problem.