Methoxetamine, abbreviated as MXE, is a dissociative hallucinogen that has been sold as a designer drug. It differs from many dissociatives such as ketamine and phencyclidine (PCP) that were developed as pharmaceutical drugs for use as general anesthetics in that it was designed for grey market distribution. Due to its structural similarity to ketamine, it’s no longer produced in sizeable quantities due to near-global bans. It is a rare example of a drug being so widely controlled without having an existing medical use.
MXE is an arylcyclohexylamine. It acts mainly as an NMDA receptor antagonist, similarly to other arylcyclohexylamines like ketamine and PCP.
MXE is not scheduled at the federal level in the United States, but it is possible that it could be considered an analog of PCE, in which case purchase, sales, or possession could be prosecuted under the Federal Analog Act.
In September 2015, a bill was introduced into Congress that sought to make MXE a Schedule I substance, but was never passed by the Senate.
Alabama – MXE is a Schedule I controlled substance in the state of Alabama making it illegal to buy, sell, or possess in Alabama.
Florida – MXE is a Schedule I controlled substance in the state of Florida making it illegal to buy, sell, or possess in Florida.
Utah – MXE is a controlled substance in the state of Utah making it illegal to buy, sell, or possess in Utah.
