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AB-FUBINACA
Ab-fubi
AB-FUBINACA is a synthetic cannabinoid of the indazolecarboxamide class.1 Originally developed by Pfizer in 2009citation needed as an analgesic, it was never pursued for human use and first surfaced in synthetic cannabinoid blends in Japan in 2012. It is a highly potent cannabinoid receptor agonist,2 and its extreme potencycitation needed—combined with its widespread inclusion in unregulated herbal blends—poses significant overdose risk, with fatalities reported.
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold~0.25 mg
Light0.25-0.5 mg
Moderate0.5-1.5 mg
Strong1.5-3 mg
Heavy3+ mg
Subjective Effects
Legacy content. A statistically backed ontology from Mindstate Design Labs is coming soon.
Effects vary widely by individual, dose, and context.
Physical
Cognitive
Auditory
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
AB-FUBINACA acts as a potent agonist at both major cannabinoid receptors, with notably high affinity and potency at CB1 (Ki of 0.9 nMcitation needed, EC50 of 1.8 nM3). It also binds CB2, though with lower affinity (Ki of 23.2 nM). Its pronounced CB1 activity at sub-nanomolar concentrations underlies its extremely high potency relative to many other cannabinoid receptor ligands.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption & half-lifenot documented yetMetabolitesnone documented yet
Interactions
Interactions not written up yet
An unlisted combination is an unknown one, not a safe one. Check a dedicated combination chart before mixing.
Tolerance
Tolerance timelines are rules of thumb, not exact schedules, and vary widely between individuals and use patterns.
Cross Tolerance
Cannabinoids (both synthetic and plant-derived)
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
LowClassified as habit-forming. Psychological dependence may develop with regular use, similar to other synthetic cannabinoids.citation needed
Toxicity
Lethal Dosage
Its extremely high potency and inclusion in synthetic cannabinoid blends make it dangerous, and it has caused death in overdose, with use linked to hospitalizations and fatalities. In an August 2018 event in New Haven, Connecticut, over 100 people required emergency transport after using synthetic cannabis containing AB-FUBINACA, with several in critical or life-threatening condition; no deaths resulted from that incident, and first responders attributed those overdoses to opiate adulterants.
History & Culture
AB-FUBINACA was initially synthesized by Pfizer in 2009 during research into novel analgesic compounds.citation needed The pharmaceutical company never advanced the substance to human clinical trials, and it was subsequently abandoned as a potential medication.…
Legality
International
AB-FUBINACA is included in Schedule II of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It was placed under international control in 2020.
By Country
Illegal14
United StatesIllegalControlled Substances Act; 21 CFR 1308.11(d)47
AB-FUBINACA is expressly listed as a Schedule I hallucinogenic substance in 21 CFR 1308.11(d)(53), with DEA drug code 7012.
AustriaIllegalSuchtgiftverordnung, Anhang IV.118
AB-FUBINACA is expressly listed in Anhang IV.1 of the Suchtgiftverordnung. Section 2(2) of that regulation treats substances listed under IV.1 as Suchtgifte under § 2(2) Suchtmittelgesetz, so it is subject to Austria's narcotic-drug controls.
BrazilIllegalRDC ANVISA nº 999, de 24 de novembro de 202515
AB-FUBINACA is expressly named at item 74 of Lista F2 in RDC ANVISA nº 999/2025. The resolution labels Lista F as substances of prohibited use in Brazil and Lista F2 as psychotropic substances; its F2 addendum also controls the listed substances’ salts and isomers where their existence is possible.
CanadaIllegalSchedule II, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act16
AB-FUBINACA is listed in Schedule II of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act as a synthetic cannabinoid receptor type 1 agonist. The Act makes unauthorized possession, production, trafficking, importation, and exportation of Schedule II substances offences.
DenmarkIllegalBekendtgørelse om euforiserende stoffer, BEK nr. 405 af 26/03/2026, Liste B, nr. 319
AB-FUBINACA is expressly listed as no. 3 on Liste B of the Danish order. Liste B substances may only be used for medical and scientific purposes; the order subjects their import, export, manufacture, trade, receipt, and possession to its permit and certificate rules.
FinlandIllegalHuumausainelaki 373/2008 §§ 3 and 5; Valtioneuvoston asetus 543/2008 § 1 and annex II (763/2020 and 1119/2025); Valtioneuvoston asetus 1130/2014 annex (62/2015, 698/2017 and 764/2020)20212223242526272829303132
AB-FUBINACA is listed as N-[1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl]-1-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide in the 1971 Convention list II block of annex II to Valtioneuvoston asetus 543/2008, and section 1 of that decree makes the substances named in annexes I to V narcotics. Under section 5 of Huumausainelaki 373/2008, the production, manufacture, import into Finland, export from Finland, transport, transit, distribution, trade, handling, possession, and use of a narcotic are prohibited, and departures are allowed only for medical, research, supervisory, and industrial purposes as separately provided by law. Valtioneuvoston asetus 763/2020 added AB-FUBINACA to annex II with effect from 21 December 2020, and the current annex II applies from 29 December 2025 under Valtioneuvoston asetus 1119/2025. Before that, AB-FUBINACA stood in the annex to Valtioneuvoston asetus 1130/2014 on psychoactive substances banned from the consumer market, added to that annex by the substitution made by Valtioneuvoston asetus 62/2015 in force from 2 February 2015. The annex substituted by Valtioneuvoston asetus 698/2017, in force from 13 November 2017, carried the same entry.33 Valtioneuvoston asetus 764/2020 struck it from that annex on 21 December 2020, the day the narcotics listing took effect, and only its 2-fluorobenzyl isomer remains on the consumer-market list.
IrelandIllegalS.I. No. 176/2022, Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (Controlled Drugs) (Declaration) Order 2022; S.I. No. 210/2022, Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations 2022; S.I. No. 211/2022, Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (Controlled Drugs) (Designation) Order 2022, as amended by S.I. No. 406/202536373839
Ireland declares AB-FUBINACA to be a controlled drug under S.I. No. 176/2022. It is listed in Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 as substituted by S.I. No. 210/2022, and in the Schedule 1 drugs designated under section 13(1) by S.I. No. 211/2022. The designation order states that manufacture, production, preparation, sale, supply, distribution and possession of its Schedule 1 drugs are unlawful except for research or other specified special purposes; S.I. No. 406/2025 subsequently amends that Schedule by insertions without removing AB-FUBINACA.
JapanIllegalNarcotics, Narcotic Raw Materials Plants, Psychotropics and Narcotic and Psychotropic Raw Materials Designation Order (Cabinet Order No. 238 of 1990), art. 1(10)111213
AB-FUBINACA is a narcotic under Article 1(10) of the current Designation Order, which names its chemical substance and salts. The MHLW Controlled Substances List dated 12 December 2024 identifies AB-FUBINACA as category N, meaning Narcotic. MHLW's 8 July 2020 notice says that it was then a designated drug, but became a narcotic on the amended order's commencement and was no longer a designated drug.
NetherlandsIllegalOpiumwet, lijst I (artikel 2)44
AB-FUBINACA is expressly listed in lijst I of the Opiumwet under its chemical name. Article 2 prohibits importing or exporting, preparing, processing, selling, supplying, transporting, possessing, and manufacturing lijst I substances, subject to statutory exemptions and exemptions granted under the Act.
NorwayIllegalForskrift om narkotika (narkotikaforskriften) (FOR-2013-02-14-199)17
AB-FUBINACA is listed by name in chapter 1 as a P II substance. Its entry is marked "Forbudt etter § 5" (prohibited under section 5), so it is prohibited in Norway.
PhilippinesIllegalRepublic Act No. 9165, §§ 3(j), 93; Dangerous Drugs Board, Updated Lists of Scheduled Controlled Substances (6 July 2025)4546
The Dangerous Drugs Board's current list places AB-FUBINACA in Schedule II of the 1971 Convention and labels it ‘New 2020.’ Republic Act No. 9165 defines dangerous drugs to include substances in the Convention schedules and gives the Board power to add drugs to that list. Unauthorised importation, sale, manufacture, and possession of dangerous drugs are penalised under the Act.
SingaporeIllegalMisuse of Drugs Act 1973, First Schedule (Class A Drugs, paragraph 21(18))43
Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 places AB-FUBINACA in the First Schedule as a controlled drug. It is expressly named in Class A Drugs, paragraph 21(18), by its chemical name and the alias AB-FUBINACA. Paragraph 21 also covers salts and stereoisomeric forms of its listed compounds, as well as preparations or products containing them.
ThailandIllegalThailand's FDA current controlled-substances table expressly lists AB-FUBINACA in Category I. The table identifies the controlled psychotropic-substance categories as being under the Narcotics Code. Thai FDA describes Category I psychotropic substances as having no medical use and a high likelihood or potential for abuse.
Controlled / restricted3
AustraliaRestrictedCustoms (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, regulation 5 and Schedule 4 item 14AA42
The federal border-control restriction applies only to importation; it does not establish an export restriction or any domestic Australian legal status. Importation is prohibited unless the regulation 5 licence, permission, production, timing and quantity requirements are met.
GermanyRestrictedAB-FUBINACA ist in Anlage II des Betäubungsmittelgesetzes als verkehrsfähiges, aber nicht verschreibungsfähiges Betäubungsmittel aufgeführt. Der Umgang, einschließlich Herstellung, Handel, Ein- und Ausfuhr, Abgabe, Veräußerung, sonstigem Inverkehrbringen und Erwerb, bedarf grundsätzlich einer Erlaubnis des Bundesinstituts für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte nach § 3 Absatz 1 BtMG.
SpainRestrictedReal Decreto 2829/1977, anexo 1, lista II14
AB-FUBINACA figura expresamente en la lista II del anexo 1 del Real Decreto 2829/1977, en su texto consolidado vigente. La fabricación, tráfico e importación o exportación de las sustancias de las listas II–IV están sujetos a autorización y controles; la dispensación por farmacias de la sustancia requiere fórmula magistral prescrita en receta médica.
References
Source Pages
Citations
Further Reading
NCBI: Overview of Synthetic Cannabinoids ADB-FUBINACA and AMB-FUBINACA- NCBI: The short-acting synthetic cannabinoid AB-FUBINACA induces physical dependence in mice
Trecki et al. 2015: Synthetic Cannabinoid-Related Illnesses and Deaths
WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence: AB-FUBINACA Critical Review
Article Status
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