3-CMC
A substituted cathinone stimulant (3-chloromethcathinone) that replaced 3-MMC in several European markets after scheduling. Short-acting with a strongly compulsive redose pattern and almost no formal pharmacology.
01 Overview
3-CMC is a positional analogue of the more familiar 3-MMC, sold as a "research chemical" largely because it sat outside existing controls when it appeared.
There is essentially no controlled human research. Everything below is drawn from analytical identification, case reports, and consistent user description — which is why almost every row on this page is rated accordingly.
02 Mechanism
As a cathinone it is presumed to act as a monoamine releaser/reuptake inhibitor at dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin transporters, closer to the balanced profile of methcathinone analogues than to pure stimulants. This is inferred from its class, not measured directly.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 25–75 mg | Oral | User-reported ranges only. No medical or reference dosing exists. |
| Common (insufflated) | 30–80 mg | Insufflated | Faster, shorter, and more compulsive than oral. |
| Common | 75–150 mg | Oral | Redosing is near-universal and is where most harm concentrates. |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euphoria and stimulationThe consistently reported primary effect | Moderate–strong | Anecdotal | |
| Increased sociabilityReported, entactogen-adjacent at higher doses | Moderate | Anecdotal | |
| Increased energy and wakefulnessTypical of the stimulant class | Marked | Anecdotal |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsive redosing and dependenceThe defining hazard. Short duration and rapid onset produce a strong urge to redose, running sessions far longer than intended. | Severe | Very common | Anecdotal | |
| Cardiovascular strainTachycardia, hypertension and vasoconstriction, compounded by redosing over long sessions. | Severe | Common | Observational | |
| Severe comedownLow mood, anxiety and anhedonia following a session, proportional to how much and how long. | Moderate | Common | Anecdotal | |
| Unknown long-term neurotoxicityNo long-term human data exists. Related cathinones show neurotoxic signals in animals; whether that applies here is genuinely unknown. | Moderate | Unknown | Unconfirmed |