2C-T: A Tactile Psychedelic
2C-T is the first of a long series of compounds in the subfamily 2C-T-X.
2C-T could be referred to as 2C-T-1 as the rest of this group is named according to the order they were found, rather than referring to something unique about its chemical structure.
This psychedelic is not popular. Its effects are notably psychedelic but have an underwhelming visual component and lack the introspection that makes other psychedelics so useful.
By far, the most popular members of this group are 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7.
With that said, let’s explore everything we know so far about the OG of the 2C-T-X group of psychedelics.
What is 2C-T?
2C-T is short for 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylthiophenethylamine. It’s a lesser-known psychedelic in the 2C-X family of psychedelics — which makes it a derivative of mescaline, and a close relative of 2C-B, 2C-C, 2C-D, 2C-E, 2C-I, 2C-P, and others.
The 2C-X family of drugs was discovered by Alexander Shulgin as he systematically attached different functional groups on the mescaline base structure and tested them to examine their psychedelic potential. Through this process of trial and error, Shulgin discovered and documented well over 200 psychedelic compounds.
Shulgin would often work in collaboration with another prominent chemist in the psychedelic space, Dr. David E. Nichols. 2C-T was discovered on one of these collaborative projects.
The 2C-T series contains a thiomethyl group, which itself contains a sulfur atom. There were subsequently 25 other compounds made by slightly altering the functional group attached to the 2C skeleton. These were named according to the order they were discovered — for example, 2C-T-2, 2C-T-3, 2C-T4, etc.
About half of the compounds in this group are psychedelic, the other half either have mild psychoactive effects or are entirely inactive.
2C-T is a distinct psychedelic from the other 2C-T analogs. It has similar but separate effects from the other members of this group. The most popular, by far, are 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7. Comparatively, 2C-T is much less visual but has stronger tactile sensations.
Overall, this psychedelic isn’t popular, and it’s difficult to find trip reports for people who have used this substance online. Shulgin himself reported this compound was “uninteresting” as it wasn’t particularly strong or unique in any way.
There are two homologs of this compound:
- 2C-T-2ETO (2-ethoxy-5-methoxy-4-methylthiophenethylamin
- 2C-T-5ETO (5-ethoxy-2-methoxy-4-methylthiophenethylamine)
2C-T: Specs & Technical Details
| Active Ingredient | 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylthiophenethylamine |
| Level of Risk | Low-Moderate |
| Most Common Side-Effects | Muscle cramping & stomach discomfort |
| Duration of Effects | 3–5 hours |
| Legality | Illegal in most parts of the world |
Guidelines for the Responsible Use of 2C-T
- 🐍 I understand why psychedelics should be treated with respect
- ⚖️ I’m familiar with the laws surrounding psychedelics in my country & state
- 🍄 I’m familiar and confident in the dose I’m taking (dose range for 2C-T is 60–100 mg)
- 🧪 I’ve tested a sample of the substance I’m using with a drug testing kit
- 💊 I’m not mixing any medications or other substances with 2C-T
- 🏔 I’m in a safe & comfortable environment with people I trust
- 🐺 One of the members of my group is responsible and sober (AKA a trip sitter)
- 📆 I have nothing important scheduled for after the trip
- 🧠 I’m in a sound & healthy state of mind
- 🌶 I’m aware of the increased risk of heatstroke & dehydration with this compound
- 📚 I’m familiar with the four pillars of responsible psychedelic use — set, setting, sitter, & substance.
- ⏳ Know the timeline — the effects of 2C-T can last between 3 and 5 hours
- 🙅♀️ Know when to avoid stimulants — don’t take 2C-T if you have underlying heart, neurological, or psychiatric disorders
What’s The Dose of 2C-T?
The dose of 2C-T isn’t well established due to a lack of research and anecdotal use. There are only a handful of reports of people using this substance online.
Alexander Shulgin’s report is the best currently available. He lists the dose between 60 and 100 mg, with a threshold of around 20 mg. This makes 2C-T one of the weaker members of the 2C-X family. Even weaker than 2C-D, which is also obscure but seen considerably more use than 2C-T.
Dosage Breakdown for 2C-T
- Threshold Dose — 20 mg
- Standard Psychoactive Dose — 60–100 mg
- Heavy Dose — 100–150 mg
What Does 2C-T Feel Like?
This compound is strongly tactile in its effects — which means you’re going to feel the psychedelic body experiences much more than the visual experiences. This effect would have made 2C-T an ideal compound for erotic encounters if not for its inhibiting effect on emotions. It has a mild “stripping” effect on emotion while increasing the “logical” or intellectual thought processes.
It could be a good psychedelic in low doses for problem-solving or focus — but this still needs to be explored in more detail.
The overall experience is fairly mild on this substance — it produces some mild visuals, makes the body feel warm and tingly, and may promote introspection.
How Long Does 2C-T Last?
This is one of the shorter-lasting psychedelics. It lasts around 4 hours on average, with some users reporting effects up to 6 hours with higher doses.
Is 2C-T Safe?
There isn’t enough information, both formal and informal alike, to confirm whether this substance is safe or not. There are no reports of hospitalizations or deaths from overdosing on this substance to date. Additionally, most of the 2C-X family have proven themselves as reasonably safe psychedelics when used within the recommended dosage range.
Because of the increased body load from this substance, it’s likely it carries a higher risk of physical side effects than other 2C-X substances.
Potential Side Effects of 2C-T Include:
- Stomach discomfort
- Indigestion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle cramping
- Increased body temperature
- Dry mouth
Testing 2C-T With Harm Reduction Test Kits
Drug reagent testing is a core component of harm reduction when using psychedelics (or any substances for that matter). The process requires a sample about the size of a grain of sand to run the test, and reagent test kits cost less than $20 each and provide enough solution to perform over 100 tests.
This form of testing won’t tell you the potency of your 2C-T sample, but it can tell you if your sample is something else entirely, or if it’s contaminated with high concentrations of potentially dangerous substances.
Learn more: How to test your substances using drug reagent kits.
What to look for when testing 2C-T:
- Marquis — Should turn yellow or green
- Mecke — Should turn green or brown
Is 2C-T Legal?
No, 2C-T is illegal in most parts of the world along with the entire 2C-X family. This substance is explicitly illegal in the United States and the United Kingdom and illegal by proxy for its close chemical structure to other 2C-X substances in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Australia.
Related: List of legal psychoactive substances around the world.
Final Thoughts: What’s The Future of 2C-T?
2C-T was the first of a long series of compounds produced by Alexander Shulgin and Dr. David E. Nichols. There are currently around 25 members of the 2C-T subfamily, about a dozen of which are psychedelic.
By far, the most popular members are 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7. 2C-T itself has seen very little use over the past several decades since it was first discovered.
This is likely due to its underwhelming but still notable experience. 2C-T is highly tactile and would be thought of as a strong psychedelic if not for the lack of visual effects.
It’s unlikely the legal status of 2C-T is going to change anytime soon, and with so many other, more interesting compounds in circulation, it isn’t likely it’s going to gain any newfound popularity in the psychedelic community either.
