Overview:
With the rise of mass-produced designer and test drugs from laboratories around the world, legally grey but incredibly powerful mind-altering substances are now on the unregulated retail market. Some you can even buy at gas stations.
Discovering Legal Psychedelics at a Gas Station
I recently stopped by a gas station in my home state of Connecticut to grab a beverage while traveling. I grabbed an energy drink from the cooler, browsed the beef jerky section, and went to the desk to check out.
The clerk was busy assisting another customer, so I browsed the glass case underneath the counter, where, in this state, there are legal intoxicants (mostly kratom) as well as CBD products for sale.
I noticed a brand of 7-OH gummies with three different flavors in the case. I thought that was odd, as these products were banned in Connecticut a few weeks prior. Kneeling down to take a closer look, I realized it was the same brand, but it was not a kratom extract.
Much to my disbelief, it was a new product with almost identical packaging. These gummies, however, contained a different substance: 4-hydroxy-N,N-diethyltryptamine (or 4-HO-DET).
I had to do a double-take. While I had not heard of the substance before, I knew this was a psychedelic compound—and it was.
What is 4-HO-DET?
4-HO-DET, or 4-hydroxy-N,N-diethyltryptamine (ethocin or CZ-74), is an unscheduled, legal-to-purchase and possess, but illegal-to-consume, synthetic psychedelic drug.
It is chemically similar to the primary psychoactive compounds found in magic mushrooms. While some states have a legal framework for the therapeutic use of mushrooms, they are heavily regulated and federally illegal.
4-HO-DET has not been recreationally available for very long, but some people post trip reports online. The consensus suggests that, for the most part, the experience is similar to magic mushrooms—more colorful but less intense at lower doses. Higher doses, however, can produce experiences comparable to LSD or other traditional psychedelics.
How 4-HO-DET Circumvents Federal Scheduling
4-HO-DET is a designer drug—a synthetic, atypical psychedelic. Hundreds of similar compounds are created in laboratories daily. For a substance to become illegal, it must be scheduled by the federal government.
Compounds like 4-HO-DET are so obscure that many federal agencies are unaware of them, so they remain unscheduled. Some substances are illegal to consume but legal to possess and sell if unscheduled. These rules vary from country to country.
In the United States, 4-HO-DET is not currently scheduled federally. However, the Federal Analogue Act renders it illegal to purchase, sell, or possess for human consumption. Some companies exploit loopholes in marketing, product descriptions, and instructions to bring these products to market.
Risks of Unregulated Psychedelics
While my younger self would be excited at affordable access to these compounds, as an adult, I find such products potentially dangerous.
Selling brightly colored gummies containing strong psychedelics presents severe risks to children. Even if behind a locked case requiring ID, the packaging could lead to accidental ingestion at home. A curious child might mistake them for candy, resulting in serious physical or psychological harm.
Impact on the Psychedelic Medicine Industry
As a proponent of safe, legal access to medical psychedelics for PTSD, depression, and other conditions, these unregulated products worry me. Accidental ingestion by children or vulnerable adults could undermine the credibility of the psychedelic medicine industry.
It has taken decades for psychedelic medicine to gain acceptance through rigorous academic and government research. If unregulated substances cause harm, public perception and legal frameworks supporting therapeutic psychedelics could be jeopardized.
Banning these products outside regulated, licensed channels—similar to the cannabis dispensary model—would protect both public safety and the legitimate medical use of psychedelics.
Conclusion: Legal Psychedelics Are Here to Stay
Legal psychedelics such as 4-HO-DET are now available in smoke shops, head shops, and even gas stations. Whether this is safe or responsible remains to be seen.
With laboratories worldwide producing novel compounds, even if 4-HO-DET is banned, another substance will quickly take its place. The ongoing cat-and-mouse game between producers and regulators is likely to continue for years.
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