JWH-019 explained

JWH-019 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family that acts as a cannabinoid agonist at both the CB₁ and CB₂ receptors. It is the N-hexyl homolog of the more common synthetic cannabinoid compound JWH-018. Unlike the butyl homolog JWH-073, which is several times weaker than JWH-018, the hexyl homolog is only slightly less potent, although extending the chain one carbon longer to the heptyl homolog JWH-020 results in dramatic loss of activity. These results show that the optimum side chain length for CB₁ binding in the naphthoylindole series is the five-carbon pentyl chain, shorter than in the classical cannabinoids where a seven-carbon heptyl chain produces the most potent compounds. This difference is thought to reflect a slightly different binding conformation adopted by the naphthoylindole compounds as compared to the classical cannabinoids, and may be useful in characterizing the active site of the CB₁ and CB₂ receptors.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Legal status

China

As of October 2015 JWH-019 is a controlled substance in China.^[4]

Poland

In Poland, JWH-019 is I-N (Poland).

Sweden

JWH-019 is illegal in Sweden.

United Kingdom

JWH-019 is Class B in the United Kingdom.

United States

JWH-019 is a Schedule I controlled substance, controlled federally in the United States.^[5]

See also

• JWH-007
• JWH-018
• JWH-073
• JWH-200
• List of JWH cannabinoids

Notes and References

1. Aung MM, Griffin G, Huffman JW, Wu M, Keel C, Yang B, Showalter VM, Abood ME, Martin BR . 6 . Influence of the N-1 alkyl chain length of cannabimimetic indoles upon CB(1) and CB(2) receptor binding . Drug and Alcohol Dependence . 60 . 2 . 133–40 . August 2000 . 10940540 . 10.1016/S0376-8716(99)00152-0 .
2. Poso A, Huffman JW . Targeting the cannabinoid CB2 receptor: modelling and structural determinants of CB2 selective ligands . British Journal of Pharmacology . 153 . 2 . 335–46 . January 2008 . 17982473 . 2219524 . 10.1038/sj.bjp.0707567 .
3. Ashton JC, Wright JL, McPartland JM, Tyndall JD . Cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor ligand specificity and the development of CB2-selective agonists . Current Medicinal Chemistry . 15 . 14 . 1428–43 . 2008 . 18537620 . 10.2174/092986708784567716 .
4. Web site: 关于印发《非药用类麻醉药品和精神药品列管办法》的通知 . China Food and Drug Administration . 27 September 2015 . Chinese . 1 October 2015 . 1 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151001222554/http://www.sfda.gov.cn/WS01/CL0056/130753.html . dead .
5. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/orangebook/c_cs_alpha.pdf Controlled Substances listed by the DEA