2C-T

2C-T (or 4-methylthio-2,5-DMPEA) is a psychedelic and hallucinogenic drug of the 2C family. It is used by some as an entheogen. It has structural and pharmacodynamic properties similar to the drugs mescaline and 2C-T-2. It was first synthesized and studied through a collaboration between David E. Nichols and Alexander Shulgin.

Chemistry
2C-T is in a class of compounds commonly known as phenethylamines, and is the 4-methylthio analogue of 2C-O, a positional isomer of mescaline. It is also the 2C analog of Aleph. The full name of the chemical is 4-methylthio-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine. The CAS number of 2C-T is 61638-09-3.

Effects
2C-T's active dosage is around 75-150mg and produces mescaline and MDMA-like effects that may last up to 6 hours.

Pharmacology
The mechanism that produces 2C-T’s hallucinogenic and entheogenic effects has not been specifically established, however it is most likely to result from action as a 5-HT2A serotonin receptor agonist in the brain, a mechanism of action shared by all of the hallucinogenic tryptamines and phenethylamines for which the mechanism of action is known.

Dangers
The toxicity of 2C-T is not well documented. 2C-T is considerably less potent than other related drugs such as 2C-T-7, but it may be expected that at higher doses it would display similar toxicity to that of other phenethylamines of the 2C-T family. Other phenethylamine derivatives substituted with an alkylthio group at the 4 position such as 2C-T-7 and 4-MTA are known to act as selective monoamine oxidase A inhibitors, a side effect which can lead to lethal serotonin syndrome when they are combined with stimulant drugs. Most confirmed fatalities involving 2C-T drugs involve their combination with other hard drugs such as alcohol, ecstasy or cocaine.

Popularity
2C-T is almost unknown on the black market although it has rarely been sold by "research chemical" companies. Limited accounts of 2C-T can be found in the book PiHKAL.

Legality
2C-T is unscheduled and unregulated in the United States; however its close similarity in structure and effects to 2C-T-7 could potentially subject possession and sale of 2C-T to prosecution under the Federal Analog Act. This seems to be the tack the federal government is taking in the wake of the DEA's Operation Web Tryp. A series of Court Cases in the US involving the prosecution of several online vendors were commenced in 2004 and resulted in a number of convictions.