A new synthetic hallucinogen is now illegal to make or sell in the US

The US Drug Enforcement Administration proposes adding 3-methoxyphencyclidine, a synthetic hallucinogen, to the list of Schedule I controlled substances. This means anyone who makes, distributes, or possesses the drug will face the same criminal penalties as for heroin or LSD.

The US is fulfilling its obligations under a 1971 international treaty on psychotropic substances. This action makes it harder to legally research or distribute this specific chemical, even if it has not yet become widely available. It also sets a precedent for how the US handles new synthetic drugs that emerge on the market.