Surprisingly good article. I wish more time was spent on the negatives. You don't read that its addictive until the last paragraph.

Until then it seem to be pro-3MMC in how it's talked about which I think is dangerous. The history of it however is fascinating.

When I read things like this I feel like I’ve lived a sheltered life, and am happy about that.

Yes, it's called AI.

(Now I want to see half of silicon valley come to an illegal AI rave with racks of computer terminals telling them they're absolutely right)

"It did have a moreish quality that could trigger compulsive redosing for some users, but it was also easy to get."

What an odd way of saying that it's addictive.

Drugs are bad, mkay?

It arrived at least 6 years ago, at least in Europe. Before the fairly recent ban you could get it delivered to your mailbox from a website

surprised it's not being used in war

Soviets/Russia came up with a whole bunch of abusive drugs to deal with cold and exhaustion (racetams, etc)

Sometimes I go read the WADA banned list just to see what people are messing with

(cathinones and derivatives already banned by WADA)

A lot of the stuff comes out of horse racing

"you can’t stop talking about yourself, but from an earnest yearning to share authentically".

Well, that killed it for me. Talking? Honestly?

Dear lord, no.

NSFW site...

> “Stories come tumbling out, not because you can’t stop talking about yourself, but from an earnest yearning to share authentically and be received, while simultaneously promoting deeper listening and presence.”

In this age of turning away from network media and embracing video podcasts, this seems like something some talk show host would offer—coffee? Water? Chatty drugs?

No, it’s just another designer drug and not a particularly new one. If you want a productivity drug there are more effective, more studied alternatives. If you want a party drug then you should probably take whatever is at the party. I think half of this article is selling fomo to people that haven’t been to ‘those parties’

I was amused by the compulsively positive way this article is written. I don't think I've had read about "falling in love" with a designer drug or about "chemsex enthusiasts" before.

All good, let people do what they want to do, but no downsides at all, even for the other drugs mentioned?

Cocaine's problem is "the irritation", Ecstasy has too much of a "hard comedown"? And all of them are addictive, but that's just a "potentially fatal flaw"?

Interesting parallel universe you got there.

Oh and:

> Perhaps it will turn out to be like MDMA, which saw its recreational market explode after being banned. So far, 3-MMC’s supply chains, which trace back to industrial labs in China and India, have held steady. With its irresistible mix of pleasure and productivity, 3-MMC might just be the drug for our time.

Illegality? Details, details...

4-MMC / Mephedrone is one of the most useful compounds for researching the phenomenology of bliss

What is its mechanism of action?

> “When you take it, you don’t feel ‘high,’ ” he explained. “You just feel better, with a little bit of pep in your step. It’s a functional tool, and it’s also very stealth. The outside world can’t really tell that you’re on drugs.”

This sounds like Brave New World.

I never understood clubbing. After one hour standing there like an utilty pole, having spend over 100 euro for entrance and two beers or drinks, I'm already tipsy enough, I'm out of cash, and I need to visit the filthy toilet.

Then I realised "they are all on drugs, that's why they're enjoying it".