5-Cl-ADB-A

5-CL-ADB-A, also known as MDMB-4en-PINACA and MDMB-PENINACA, is an indazole-based synthetic cannabinoid in the indazole-3-carboxamide family. Its official scientific nomenclature is methyl (S)-3,3-dimethyl-2-(1-(pent-4-en-1-yl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamido)butanoate (C20H27N3O3) [1].

Scientific Studies 5-cl-adb-a
No official scientific studies have been done on 5CL-ADB-A to date. However, in 2018  a study published in “Forensic Toxicology” compared the potency and mechanisms of several carboxamide-type synthetic cannabinoids.  These compounds, like 5CL-ADB-A, have asymmetric carbon, derived from an amide moiety composed of amino acid derivatives.

5-cl-adb-a behave in similar ways since they are analogues with similar structures. Indeed, the study found that all such synthetic cannabinoids are agonists that act on both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. This suggests they have a cannabimimetic effect. Thus, can be potentially more potent than cannabis’s psychoactive compound THC. THC works by acting on these same cannabinoid receptors.

The study looked at AB-FUBINACA, EMB-FUBINACA, 5F-EMB-PINACA, APP-CHMINACA and MDMB-FUBICA. They all have similar structures to 5CL-ADB-A. This chemical acts  on CB1 and CB2 receptors thus  it would present similar cannabimimetic effects.

Signs of Abuse
There is no one sure way to identify the abuse of research chemicals and designer drugs. Because these drugs are designed so that they, in some cases, mimic existing drugs of all types and, in other cases, behave independently of any original drug, signs and symptoms of use and abuse of these drugs vary widely. However, one way to help identify the abuse of research chemicals is to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of the drugs they are closely related to as well as with the known designer drugs on the market as the information becomes available.