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UR-144

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Subjective Effects
Interactions
Tolerance
Legality
UR-144 molecule structureUR-144 molecule structure
Open in Piru

UR-144 is a synthetic cannabinoid1 of the tetramethylcyclopropyl indole class sold in the novel psychoactive substances market.1 It produces cannabis-like effects2 and is described as more psychedelic-like than some other synthetic cannabinoids, although users do not consistently report this. Its structure resembles JWH-018, with a tetramethylcyclopropyl group replacing the naphthyl group.3 It is commonly encountered in blends containing varying concentrations of UR-144.

Dosage & Duration

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Dosage

Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.

Moderate2.5-20 mg

Duration

Onset10 minutes
Total1-2 hours

Subjective Effects

Subjective Effects not written up yet

Reagent Testing

Expected colorimetric results for common reagent tests. Colors show reaction change over 1–2 minutes.

Marquis(MQ)
white → purple2
Mecke(ME)
white → green1 → yellow3 → brown2
Mandelin(MD)
yellow2 → green2 → green3
Liebermann(LB)
white → orange2 → red3
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Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

UR-144 acts at CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, with reported binding affinities indicating a preference for CB2.4 Limited pharmacological data suggests full agonist activity at both receptors. In mice, UR-144 substituted for THC in a drug discrimination test,5 and rimonabant blocked this response, supporting a role for CB1 in its discriminative effects.

Pharmacokinetics

CYP3A4 appears to be the principal enzyme involved in UR-144 metabolism.7 Heating UR-144, including during inhalation, produces a pyrolysis product.8

Metabolitesnone 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.

Check TripSit

Tolerance

Tolerance not written up yet

Harm Potential

Psychosis Risk

Paranoia can occur during UR-144 use.

Seizure Risk

Seizures may occur with UR-144 use.9 A 22-year-old man lost consciousness and developed convulsions and continuing generalized spasms after a few puffs of a smoked joint; seizure activity resolved during hospitalization, and by the next day he reported only drowsiness and headache.

History & Culture

UR-144 was created in 2006 by Abbott Laboratories as a candidate cannabinoid receptor agonist medication. The compound was found to be biased toward CB2 over CB1, a profile regarded as favourable for therapeutic development. Data on the compound was published in 2010, and it is also known under the…

Legality

Legality not written up yet

References

Citations

  1. The effects of synthetic cannabinoid UR-144 on the human body-A review of 39 cases. Forensic Science International (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.02.03112
  2. UR-144. WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Information Repository (n.d.). https://ecddrepository.org/en/ur-144123
  3. Thermolytic Degradation of Synthetic Cannabinoids: Chemical Exposures and Pharmacological Consequences. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, author manuscript hosted on ResearchGate (2017). https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.116.2387171
  4. Emerging Designer Drug Monograph: UR-144. Society of Forensic Toxicologists (2013). https://www.soft-tox.org/assets/NPSLiterature/UR-144.pdf1
  5. Cannabinoids in disguise: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-like effects of tetramethylcyclopropyl ketone indoles. Neuropharmacology (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.07.0221
  6. UR-144: Critical Review Report, Agenda Item 4.11. World Health Organization (2017). https://ecddrepository.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/criticalreview_ur144.pdf1234
  7. Cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of the synthetic cannabinoids UR-144 and XLR-11. Drug Testing and Analysis (2016). https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.18601
  8. Pyrolysis of UR-144, a synthetic cannabinoid, augments an affinity to human CB1 receptor and cannabimimetic effects in mice. Journal of Toxicological Sciences (2017). https://doi.org/10.2131/jts.42.3351
  9. A Case of Status Epilepticus and Transient Stress Cardiomyopathy Associated with Smoking the Synthetic Psychoactive Cannabinoid, UR-144. American Journal of Case Reports (2019). https://doi.org/10.12659/ajcr.9189181

Further Reading

  1. Sobolevsky et al. 2012 - Detection of urinary metabolites of AM‐2201 and UR‐144, two novel synthetic cannabinoids
  2. Kavanagh et al. 2013 - UR‐144 in products sold via the Internet: Identification of related compounds and characterization of pyrolysis products

Article Status

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