Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of 10 Synthetic Cathinones into Schedule I

The Deputy Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is issuing this notice of intent to temporarily schedule 10 synthetic cathinones into schedule I pursuant to the temporary scheduling provisions of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The 10 substances are: (1) 4-methyl-N-ethylcathinone ("4-MEC"); (2) 4-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinopropiophenone ("4-MePPP"); (3) alpha- pyrrolidinopentiophenone ("[alpha]-PVP"); (4) 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5- yl)-2-(methylamino)butan-1-one ("butylone"); (5) 2-(methylamino)-1- phenylpentan-1-one ("pentedrone"); (6) 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2- (methylamino)pentan-1-one ("pentylone"); (7) 4-fluoro-N- methylcathinone ("4-FMC"); (8) 3-fluoro-N-methylcathinone ("3- FMC"); (9) 1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)pentan-1-one ("naphyrone"); and (10) alpha-pyrrolidinobutiophenone ("[alpha]- PBP"). This action is based on a finding by the Deputy Administrator that the placement of these synthetic cathinones into schedule I of the CSA is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety. Any final order will be published in the Federal Register and may not be effective prior to February 27, 2014. Any final order will impose the administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions and regulatory controls applicable to schedule I substances under the CSA on the manufacture, distribution, possession, importation, exportation, research, and conduct of instructional activities of these synthetic cathinones.