Grey Area Closed: Heavy Blow to 6 Chemicals
Official titleDecision on Subjecting Certain Substances to the Provisions of Law No. 2313 on the Control of Narcotic Drugs (Decision No.: 11418)
With Presidential Decision No. 11418, 6 new chemical substances were included within the scope of Law No. 2313 on the Control of Narcotic Drugs and banned.
Details of the Regulation
Pursuant to the decision published in the Official Gazette dated June 13, 2026, based on Article 19 of Law No. 2313, certain synthetic substances have been included in the narcotic drugs regime. In addition to substances such as '2-Allyl-delta-8-THC' and 'Delta-8-THC methylcarbonate', which are THC derivatives, the list includes 'Ethylene isotonitazepyne', one of the extremely dangerous synthetic opioids, and 'Ethylbromazolam', a benzodiazepine derivative. With the definition of these substances as narcotic drugs; their unauthorized production, sale, importation, and possession have become subject to severe sanctions under the Turkish Penal Code. The decision aims to bring under control new-generation psychoactive substances introduced to the market by utilizing 'legal loopholes' within the scope of the anti-narcotics strategy.
Questions You Might Have
- Were these substances legal before?
- These substances could technically be found in a 'grey area'; however, with this decision, they were officially placed into narcotics status, and the legal loophole was closed.
- Why is the substance Ethylene isotonitazepyne so important?
- Nitazene derivatives are synthetic opioids that can be hundreds of times more potent than morphine, and the risk of overdose is extremely high; this decision is intended to prevent loss of life.
- Does this affect medicines sold in pharmacies?
- No, these substances are generally synthetic compounds produced in illegal laboratories; the control processes for prescription drugs are different.
Key Terms
- 2313 Sayılı Kanun
- The primary law regulating the control, importation, exportation, and sale of narcotic drugs.
- Murakabe
- The act of auditing, controlling, and keeping under surveillance.
- Psikoaktif Madde
- A chemical compound that affects the central nervous system, producing changes in mental functions.
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REGAS Commentary
This decision is a critical step to prevent 'designer drugs' that attempt to circumvent the law by modifying their chemical structure with minor tweaks. For citizens, this means that the listed substances can no longer be legally possessed, even under a medical or industrial guise, and will carry very severe penal consequences.