DEA temporarily extends Schedule I status of synthetic cannabinoid

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration temporarily extended the Schedule I status of the synthetic cannabinoid MAB-CHMINACA for one year past its current expiration of Feb. 4, or until a permanent scheduling action for the substance is complete.    The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is temporarily extending the Schedule I status of synthetic cannabinoid N-(1-amino-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (MAB-CHMINACA), including its optical, positional and geometric isomers, salts, and salts of isomers, the DEA announced.
   The order will extend the temporary scheduling of the chemical for one year past its current expiration date of Feb. 4, or until a permanent scheduling action for the substance is complete, whichever occurs first, the DEA said.
   The order will expire Feb. 5, 2019, unless the DEA publishes a final rule making the scheduling action permanent before then.
   Incidentally, the DEA published a proposed rule Jan. 30 to permanently place MAB-CHMINACA on Schedule I.
   The agency will collect comments on the proposed rule through March 1.
   Making the designation permanent would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil and criminal sanctions applicable to Schedule I controlled substances on people who import, export, distribute or possess the substance.
   The DEA temporarily placed MAB-CHMINACA on its Schedule I list through a Feb. 5, 2016 Federal Register notice.