Erowid Extracts D o c u m e n t i n g t h e C o m p l e x R elationship B e t w e e n H u m a n s a n d P sychoactives

July 2013 Number 24

Spotlight on NBOMes • Erowid Center 2013/2014 Prospectus A letter from Erowid Center’s founders …

Dear Friend of Erowid,

This Erowid Extracts is different. After publishing twice a year since 2001, for this issue we’ve refocused the time we normally spend on the newsletter to creating an organizational prospectus.

2013 is a year of change for international drug policy, for novel psychoactive substances, and for Erowid Center. One big change is that Sylvia Thyssen, one of our core staff, has moved on after eleven years as our volunteer coordinator and managing editor. She has been integral to Erowid’s success and her careful editor’s eye will be missed as she shifts her focus to the field of hospice care.

Over the past year, the explosion of new mind-altering chemicals around the world has increased the need for rigorous, extensive review and publishing of reliable independent information. Although the last ten years have seen a resurgence of support for psychedelic research, medical marijuana, and cannabis legalization, there is still a surprising lack of financial backing for direct education about the responsible use of psychoactive drugs. To continue and improve its services, Erowid must find new funding sources.

After extensively exploring institutional funding, we’ve found that even some of the most progressive organizations are leery of being linked to practical drug information. As drug policy organizations make progress in changing cannabis laws, and others gain ground with medical research, they become more conservative and wary of risking the advances they’ve made. But this progress is built on changes in public perceptions of psychoactive drugs, and Erowid Center has a deep impact on increasing acceptance that psychoactive drug use is here to stay, and that responsible use is key.

As we go to print, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has released its World Drug Report 2013, which concedes several points we’ve been making for years. They now essentially admit that law enforcement efforts have failed in the face of the realities of psychoactive and communication technologies.

“[T]he international drug control system is floundering, for the first time, under the speed and creativity of the phenomenon known as new psychoactive substances (NPS). […] No sooner is one substance scheduled, than another one replaces it, thus making it difficult to study the long-term impact of a substance on usage and its health effects.”

The Erowid Center Prospectus has been a challenge to craft. We wanted to balance the visionary and the mundane; contrast the complexities of the Drug War alongside the simple imperative for quality drug information; look back at the history of Erowid’s global impact and ahead to what still needs to be done. And we want a document that our progressive supporters can feel comfortable leaving out on their desks at work, but not find too corporate or mainstream.

This prospectus is designed for supporters like you, to provide words, phrases, and ideas to help you communicate the Erowid vision to others. Please browse it and consider how you can help us achieve our goals, by continuing your support or by sharing it with someone else who might support one of our projects.

While readers may miss their regular Erowid Extracts, we hope you appreciate this important new document. Now more than ever, your help is critical to spreading the word about Erowid Center’s commitment to reliable, independent drug information.

Earth & Fire Erowid

)ii Erowid Extracts ­— Number 24 / July 2013 Table of Contents Erowid Extracts Number 24, July 2013 A Letter from Erowid Center’s Founders...... )

Spotlight on NBOMes...... 2 Founder, Editor in Chief Fire Erowid Erowid Center Prospectus...... 28-page Insert Founder, Executive Editor Earth Erowid Managing Editor Jon Hanna Technical Developer JL

“[T]here is a spirit of reform in the air, to make the [UN Crew drug control] conventions fit for purpose and adapt them to Sylvia Thyssen, Bläk, Plutonic, Psilo, Kernel a reality on the ground that is considerably different from Associate Editors the time they were drafted”. Zachawry, RevMeo, Katherine

— Antonio Maria Costa (2008), former Executive Experience Collection - Senior Editor Director, UN Office on Drugs and Crime Antheia Experience Collection - Reviewers Dendron, Abrad, Selggurkim, “[T]he international drug control system is floundering, Seed for the first time, under the speed and creativity of the Experience Collection - Triagers Exedelic, Elmar, LotN, Yucatanboy, Kalle, phenomenon known as New Psychoactive Substances.” Namaste, Catskills, Aetherolea, Leevion, Pskoactv, Elkat13, Brokoli, Israelite7, Moetsukiru, Vera, — UN Office on Drugs and Crime, 2013 Annual Report Nickflyer, Magiktreez, Spent, Catharsis, Survival, Harmony, Tforceimaj, Azgaza, ScAb13, Lizard

Erowid Extracts is the members’ newsletter Erowid Center’s mission is to provide and facilitate access to objective, of Erowid Center. It has been published twice accurate, and non-judgmental information about plants, chemicals, a year since May 2001. If you are interested technologies, and related issues that affect the mind, body, and culture. in receiving this newsletter or supporting Erowid Center supports and trains libraries, publishers, and other Erowid Center’s educational mission, visit: information distributors on issues related to these fields. http://erowid.org/donations/ It is also Erowid Center’s goal to support medical, legal, scientific, academic, and independent experts in developing and publishing related Past issues can be read online at: resources. http://erowid.org/extracts/

Erowid Center Subscriptions: To become a member and subscribe to Erowid Extracts, visit: PO Box 1116 http://erowid.org/membership/ Grass Valley, CA 95945 Change of Address: To update your mailing address, use the form at: Erowid.org https://erowid.org/donations/donations_update_address.php [email protected] Cancellations: To cancel your subscription, contact: [email protected] ISSN 1548-8071 © 2013 Erowid Center Reprints: To request permission to reproduce an article or image from this Erowid is a ® Registered Trademark newsletter, contact: [email protected] All rights reserved Advertising: Erowid Extracts does not accept advertisements, but if you would like to include a flier about a related organization or event in our mailings, contact: [email protected] Know Your Body Cover Image Credits: 1) 25I-NBOMe Blotter—Farmer Dodds; 2) EcstasyData Know Your Mind Results—Erowid; 3) Erowid Center Prospectus Cover—Erowid; 4) Lophophora Know Your Substance williamsii—Erowid 5) “Plant Food” Containing MDPV—Erowid; 6) Open Source Software Logos—Erowid; 7) Sydney Morning Herald Cover—Mark Pesce Know Your Source

Erowid Extracts — Number 24 / July 2013 Spotlight on NBOMes

Potent Psychedelic Issues by Earth and Fire Erowid

We often find ourselves being asked causes confusion among media outlets not to publish about a new psychoactive and law enforcement who have falsely plant or chemical. Sometimes it’s a proclaimed that health incidents related 25I-NBOMe critic who thinks we glorify its use. to NBOMe blotter were caused by LSD. Other times it’s an advocate who thinks that we over-emphasize health risks. It Basics might be someone expressing concern The most popular of the NBOMes that public information about a drug are 25I-NBOMe (25I) and 25C-NBOMe will hurt its chances of being useful (25C), and 25B-NBOMe (25B). They are for therapeutic purposes, or festival all N-Benzyl-Oxy-Methyl derivatives organizers concerned that mentioning (thus “NBOMe”) of previously known 2C-I new drugs being available at events phenethylamines such as 2C-I and 2C-B. might draw legal attention. We continue An extra ring structure attached to the to be convinced that open, honest, parent chemical results in a 10–20x and complete information needs to be increase in potency as well as changes NBOMes trigger less complex intro- accessible for drugs that are in the to the experiential effects. spection than LSD, but produce strong hands of the public. After discovery by Ralf Heim in visual and sensory effects, with the 2003, Dr. David Nichols’s lab at Purdue phrase “eye candy” occasionally being A unprecedented 233 new University researched the structure- used. As with most psychedelics, some recreational drugs have been identified activity relationships of the NBOMes. people describe nausea as the effects by the European Monitoring Centre The chemicals first appeared on begin. for Drugs and Addiction in the last recreational markets in 2010, and had One of the most worrisome reported five years. While the latest wave has become popular enough to warrant effects is vasoconstriction, including mentioning in the increased blood pressure, peripheral June 2011 issue of swelling, and cramping. Vasoconstric- The NBOMes appear to be supplanting Erowid Extracts. tion is also associated with high doses B y D e c e m b e r of other drugs, such as LSD, bromo- LSD on a significant portion of acid-style 2012, the NBOMe dragonfly, amphetamines, and MDMA. blotter being sold this year. compou nds had The duration of 25I is a little shorter d r a w n e n o u g h than LSD at comparable effect levels. If law enforcement LSD’s normal full duration is considered interest for the 10-12 hours, 25I’s is around 8-10 hours. included primarily euphoric stimulants DEA to publish a detailed analytical A number of users report less lingering and synthetic cannabinoids, the NBOMe “characterization”. stimulation after the primary effects compounds (pronounced “en-bō-may”, have ended than with LSD. “en-bō-mee”, or “en-bomb”) have Effects become the defining psychedelics of Doses of 750–1,000 µg (0.75–1 mg) Forms 2013. Because they are strongly active of 25I or 25C, can cause a strong The NBOMes were first sold as below a milligram, are relatively easy with effects freebase powders. Because of debate to synthesize, and have effects and loosely comparable to those of LSD about the compounds’ oral bioavailabil- duration similar to LSD, they appear or 2C phenethylamines. Many people ity, it became standard practice to take to be supplanting LSD on a significant report enjoying the effects, with some them buccally (held in the mouth, not portion of acid-style blotter being sold even saying they prefer 25I to LSD. swallowed). Manufacturers sometimes this year. And in typical fashion, this Most descriptions indicate that the also apply a procedure to “complex”

2 Erowid Extracts ­— Number 24 / July 2013 the NBOMes with “HPBCD” (a from 8.1% in 1999 to 1.9% a decade “25I” not “2C-I” ring-shaped cyclodextrin sugar later. This created an opening for molecule), which helps them pass other super-potent psychedelics to through the body’s membranes. be deposited on perforated paper There are two primary nomenclatures Many people report that the blotter. Sometimes buyers are used for the NBOMe compounds. If HPBCD-complexed NBOMes are correctly informed of the drug’s one followed the naming model used more potent than the un-complexed identity, but often it is falsely sold by , 25I-NBOMe and versions. Due to the intricacies as “acid” or even more specifically, 25B-NBOMe would be called “2C-I- of buccal and oral preparations, “LSD”. As one Erowid contributor NBOMe” and 2C-B-NBOMe. However, some people choose instead to put it, “Paper blotter is an easy, after media report of a 25I-NBOMe- insufflate NBOMes in liquid practical way to distribute 500 related fatality erroneously attributed form. As of June 2013, there still micrograms of a chemical. Which do the death to the parent compound “2C-I”, seems to be substantial confusion you think would sell better, blotter we chose to regularize all mentions to about the effectiveness/potency of sold as ‘25I-NBOMe’ or blotter sold the alternate “25I-NBOMe”. Hopefully different forms (freebase, HCl salt, as the now nearly mythical ‘acid’?” this heads off the tendency by users, complexed freebase) and routes of This continues a well-known trend reporters, and law enforcement alike to administration. of substituting one drug for another shorten the name inappropriately. less common one, such as the classic Idiosyncratic Reactions example of LSD being sold as A number of stories about 25I “”. and 25C indicate either an idio- Prior to 2013, a few other drugs syncratically stronger reaction in had been found on blotter, but none some people, or a sharp, non-linear occupied as much of the market as increase in the intensity of effects 25I does today. Between 2007 and as dose increases. One individual 2010, bromo-dragonfly (a phenethyl- told us about having been given a amine-related psychedelic) appeared small bottle of liquid 25I-NBOMe, on blotter, and made news when it labeled as 500 µg (0.5 mg) per caused a few deaths in the USA drop. They and two friends decided and Europe. But it was only sold as to give it a try: two took one LSD for a brief period of time, in drop and one took three drops. part because its duration of action Those who took one drop enjoyed (substantially longer than LSD) the experience, had a great time, was unpopular, and its synthesis and said they’d do it again. The process is technically difficult. third, after three drops, became DOB, DOI, and DOC have also incoherent and frantic, then ran shown up on blotter over the last from the house and drove off in 40 years, but they have never his car. He crashed into a tree and been common, and because of woke up in the hospital two days higher dosage requirements they later with no memory of anything were usually perforated into hits after he felt the effects begin. There larger than the ¼-inch-square acid Sydney Newspaper, by Mark Pesce are numerous stories of people standard. becoming delirious at doses over One detectable difference 1.5 mg of 25I and 25C, though there between LSD and the NBOMe In early June 2013, Henry Kwan took are also stories of people taking compounds when found on blotter is something he believed was LSD and more than 2 mg and not being taste. Genuine LSD blotter is either later jumped to his death from a third overwhelmed by the effects. tasteless or has a mild “metallic” floor balcony in Sydney, Australia. Two flavor, while most people describe Blotter Roulette an intense bitterness when holding newspapers carried it as front page After the DEA’s successful 25I or 25C blotter in their mouth. stories the next day, with one proclaiming disruption of global LSD distribution This is likely due to a hit/tab “boy ‘thought he could fly’”, in clear in the early 2000s, acid became containing five to ten times more reference to past media treatments increasingly rare. According to chemical. The bitter taste has led of LSD-related deaths. Both papers the 2011 Monitoring the Future some distributors to add mint or indicated LSD was not likely involved, survey, past-year use of LSD by fruit flavoring to NBOMe liquid with the Sydney Morning Herald stating 18-year-olds in the USA dropped and blotter. it was either 25B- or 25I-NBOMe.

Erowid Extracts — Number 24 / July 2013 3 25I-NBOMe and 25C-NBOMe have handling pure high-potency chemicals in the scientific literature (Passie et gained popularity over the last three such as LSD or 25I-NBOMe should al. 2008) concluded that there have years due in part to the ease with which be performed wearing eye protection, been zero documented deaths clearly a single gram can be shipped interna- gloves, and a filter mask. Yet such attributable to an LSD overdose. tionally. Super-potent drugs, active at precautions are rarely followed. under a milligram, more readily cross Perhaps the greatest risk of the wide In the Wild availability of pure As of July 1, 2013, our EcstasyData NBOMe powders testing project has analyzed four is confusing one samples that contained NBOMe It is a darkly poetic indictment of the white powder for compounds. Erowid has received 314 War on Drugs that LSD, the first synthetic another, or simply reports of NBOMe use: 5 in 2010, 35 in psychedelic, demonized for decades and misunderstand - 2011, 148 in 2012, and 126 in the first the target of extremely expensive law ing the difference six months of 2013. Bluelight, a drug b e t w e e n o n e discussion forum, has more than 8,000 enforcement operations, looks to be far p s y c h e d e l i c o r posts containing the word “NBOMe”. safer than its replacements. s t i m u l a n t d r u g The digital black market Silk Road has and another. Many 241 listings for NBOMe products, most people have prior deposited on blotter, some “complexed” experience with freebase, and others HCl salt. through customs. One dose (750 µg) insufflating small lines or bumps Silk Road prices for pure 25I-, 25C-, is about the size of six small grains of a psychedelic or stimulant. It’s and 25B-NBOMe powder currently of regular table salt. The material in a fairly new phenomenon that a range from $90 to $200 per gram. The a single large hard-water spot left on similarly-sized line of a drug could most problematic listings are vendors a glass after air-drying can weigh a lead to death. More than one of the selling blotter that begs to be resold milligram. One large grain of kosher documented 25I- or 25C-related as acid: ¼-inch perforated squares in salt can weigh over five milligrams. deaths have followed insufflation 100-hit sheets bearing designs such as This means that a small capsule can of ten or more times the appropriate Albert Hofmann’s bike ride and The contain hundreds of doses of a chemical dosage. Beatles Yellow Submarine, among other like 25I-NBOMe and a soda can–sized acid-blotter designs from the past. One package could contain more than a Media Claiming “LSD Deaths” vendor states “each tab is acid size, no hundred thousand doses. One aggravating aspect of the big blotters here”. Another offers hits The unusually high potency makes sale of 25I and 25C as acid is that supposedly containing 1 mg of 25I- and overdoses more likely. Unfortunately, uninformed media and government 25B-NBOMe each! Dosages range from the risks of 25I (and perhaps other sources have reported several deaths 500 micrograms to 2 mg per ¼-inch hit, NBOMes) at high doses seem to include as being LSD-related. These reports with advertised doses averaging around delirious, dangerous behavior (with rarely acknowledge that there are 1 mg. On Silk Road, LSD blotter is 5-10 some accidents resulting in death), essentially no known deaths caused by times more expensive than NBOMe as well as the possibility of death LSD’s pharmacological effects, and blotter. from direct pharmacological effects. there is usually Medically dangerous doses may be no mention that as low as 3-5 mg. It is a darkly poetic other substances indictment of the War on Drugs that could have been LSD, the first synthetic psychedelic, involved. demonized for decades and the target of After a death extremely expensive law enforcement blamed on LSD operations, looks to be far safer than in March 2013, its replacements. Jacob Sullum of Reason.com Handle with Care wrote a biting A great deal of 25I and 25C are sold to article mocking end-users as pure powder, which creates the prosecutor an inherently dangerous situation. Most and reporters, people (especially 16–25-year-old and pointing out experimenters) don’t know the safety that the most procedures necessary for handling recent review 25I-NBOMe “Om” Blotter, by Farmer Dodds super-potent compounds. Weighing and of LSD deaths

4 Erowid Extracts ­— Number 24 / July 2013 NBOMes & the Law be approved under the new T h e N B O M e s a r e Psychoactive Substances starting to be legally Bill will need to be safer controlled. The first ban than other recreationally- we’re aware of was in used drugs (a substan- Russia in October 2011, tially lower standard for and the second was in “safety” than is required the state of Virginia in for over-the-counter April 2012. In the first ). Testing to half of 2013, Arkansas, demonstrate that level Florida, Louisiana, Israel, of safety is expected to and the United Kingdom cost around a million US have all passed some type dollars per drug. of criminal control. This model is drawing Over the last 50 years, attention in other coun- it has been repeatedly tries as well. A report demonstrated that crimi- by the Health Officers nalizing a popular drug will C o u n c i l o f B r i t i s h result in new substances C o l u m b i a , C a n a d a , replacing it, and in sales 25I-NBOMe for Sale on Silk Road Public Health Perspec- moving from legal or tives for Regulating semi-legal sources into Psychoactive Substances, black markets. According discusses the direction to the United Nations Office on Drugs Health, law enforcement, and Stargate New Zealand is taking and astutely and Crime’s World Drug Report 2013, International, a harm-minimization notes, “Prohibiting a substance does “no sooner is one substance scheduled, organization that began as a commercial send a message of social disapproval than another one replaces it, thus making “legal high” distributor. If implemented of use, […] but the value of using it difficult to study the long-term impact as expected, this unprecedented law will prohibition to send a message to of a substance on usage and its health create a framework by which vendors dissuade use must be weighed against effects”. The prohibition of previously will be allowed to distribute products the harmful consequences of imple- developed psychedelics, empathogens, containing new, not yet controlled, menting prohibition, and the utility of and stimulants led to the widespread recreationally-used substances to other measures that are less harmful to distribution of 25I-NBOMe. The begs those 18 and older. Vendors will be individuals than criminalization.” the question, “What will the scheduling required to pay an of 25I-NBOMe lead to?”. initial registration fee, demonstrate the Slightly Bitter basic safety of their The best hope on the horizon for Taste of the Future products, and track stopping the recurring cycle of drug The NBOMes are harbingers of things adverse reactions control and new drug development to come. The problems and challenges after sales begin. comes from New Zealand. they pose are problems that the current As Matt Bowden prohibitionist regulatory framework ( t h e f o u n d e r o f will naturally continue to generate. Stargate Interna- For example, new psychoactives under tional) described to development are reported to be another us in early 2012 while the Psychoactive Every indication is that New ten times more potent, with 10,000 doses Substances bill was being written, Zealand’s Psychoactive Substances per gram. medications intended to treat an ailment Bill will pass into law in mid- to late must meet a higher standard than 2013, after which specific regulations New Zealand’s New Model social tonics: they must be shown to be will need to be finalized. Some more The best hope on the horizon for both safe for those who suffer from a cynical critics of the Drug War have stopping this recurring cycle of drug particular ailment and effective at treating expressed doubt that this will represent control and new drug development it. For “social” drugs, the definition real change, but we at Erowid Center comes from New Zealand. A new of “effectiveness” is simply whether remain hopeful, viewing this as the “Psychoactive Substances Bill” has people like taking the drug, essentially most exciting and progressive drug been developed through a collaboration eliminating the costly step of proving policy reform currently happening in between the New Zealand Ministry of effectiveness. The first drugs likely to the world. •

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“Whether one believes in a religion “It appears to me that one defeats “A great human revolution in or not, and whether one believes in the fanatic precisely by not being a just a single individual can help rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who fanatic oneself, but on the contrary achieve a change in the destiny of doesn’t appreciate kindness and by using one’s intelligence.” a nation and enable a change in all compassion.” — George Orwell (1903–1950) humankind.” ― T. G., 14th Dalai Lama (b. 1935) ― Daisaku Ikeda (b. 1928) “Freedom means self-fulfillment. It “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles also means putting up with other “Every revolution was first a thought are to humanity. These are but trifles, people’s irritating pursuit of the in one man’s mind, and when the to be sure; but scattered along same.” same thought occurs to another life’s pathway, the good they do is — Wendy McElroy (b. 1951) man, it is the key to that era.” inconceivable.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) ― Anonymous Proverb “You should never wear your best “The most treasured and sacred trousers when you go out to fight for moments of our lives are those filled ὁ κόσμος freedom and truth.” with the spirit of love. The greater — Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) the measure of our love, the greater is our joy.” ἀλλοίωσις, “We used to think that revolutions ― Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) are the cause of change. Actually ὁ βίος it is the other way around: change “For everything that is really great prepares the ground for revolution.” and inspiring is created by the ὑπόληψις. — Eric Hoffer (1902–1983) individual who can labor in freedom.” — Albert Einstein (1879–1955) [ The universe is change; “The times they are a-changin.’” life is opinion. ] — Bob Dylan (b. 1941) “How can we fight for liberty if we are not free in our own minds?” ­— Marcus Aurelius子 “Change begets change. Nothing — Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961) propagates so fast.” — Charles Dickens (1812–1870) “[The educated citizen] knows that only an educated and informed “Weep not that the world changes— people will be a free people, that “My definition of a free society did it keep a stable, changeless state, the ignorance of one voter in a is a society where it is safe to be t’were cause indeed to weep.” democracy impairs the security of unpopular.” — William Cullen Bryant (1794–1878) all. […] And, therefore, the educated — Adlai Stevenson Jr (1900–1965) citizen has a special obligation to “To improve is to change; to be encourage the pursuit of learning, “The first duty of society is to give perfect is to have changed often.” to promote exploration of the each of its members the possibility ― Winston Churchill (1874–1965) unknown, to preserve the freedom of fulfilling his destiny. When it of inquiry […]” becomes incapable of performing “Consciousness is only possible — John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) this duty it must be transformed.” through change; change is only — Alexis Carrel (1873–1944) possible through movement.” “A first grader should understand ― Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) that his or her culture isn’t a rational “You cannot buy the Revolution. You invention; that there are thousands cannot make the Revolution. You can “In this light, let’s not look back in of other cultures and they all work only be the Revolution. It is in your anger or forward in fear, but around pretty well.” spirit or it is nowhere.” in awareness.” — Kurt Vonnegut (1922–2007) — Ursula K. Le Guin (b. 1929) — James Thurber (1894–1961)