Psychedelic · phenethylamine
2C-B
aka Nexus · Bees · Eve · Venus · Bromo · BDMPEA
Last verified
2C-B is the friendly cousin of the 2C family: bright, short, manageable, and historically associated with the Spanish and Dutch club circuit since the late 90s. At common doses (15–20 mg oral) most people describe it as "MDMA with light visuals". Push past 25 mg and you're firmly in psychedelic territory with closed-eye geometry and serious time distortion.
The most important thing to know about street "2C-B" today is that the pink powder marketed as such across Latin America, Spain and the UK is almost never actually 2C-B. See the tucibi page. Real 2C-B usually comes as small white-to-pink pressed pills (often with a bee or "B" logo) or as crystalline powder; if you have a kilo of pink powder labelled 2C-B for €5/g, it's not 2C-B.
Harm reduction
- Start low, especially with new material. 10–15 mg oral the first time. The dose-response curve is notoriously steep above 25 mg. twice the dose can mean a qualitatively different experience.
- Marquis kit at minimum. A real 2C-B sample takes about 30 seconds to go yellow then olive-green. If it goes black immediately or doesn't change at all, it isn't 2C-B, and the most likely fake (NBOMe-series) is much more dangerous.
- Eat 2–3 hours before, not during. Oral 2C-B is notorious for stomach discomfort 30–60 minutes in. Avoid heavy meals, dairy and alcohol in the come-up window.
- Insufflated 2C-B burns. Genuinely badly. Most people only do it once. If you're going to, half the oral dose, expect 5 minutes of pain, and shorter overall duration.
- Combination notes:
- With MDMA ("nexus flip"): classic combo, dose 2C-B at the come-down of MDMA. Don't co-administer at the start.
- With LSD: extends and intensifies both. Halve both doses if combining.
- With stimulants: cardiovascular load adds up; not recommended at common-and-up doses of 2C-B.
- Set and setting matter even at low doses. Bright nightclub strobes at 25 mg 2C-B are a different experience from a quiet living room with friends. Decide which one you signed up for.
- The come-down is the easy part. Unlike MDMA, 2C-B does not produce a meaningful next-day dip for most users. but inter-use spacing of 1–2 weeks is still the sensible default.
Dosage.
Oral
- Threshold
- 5 mg
- Light
- 10–15 mg
- Common
- 15–25 mg
- Strong
- 25–40 mg
- Heavy
- 40 mg
Insufflated
- Threshold
- 2 mg
- Light
- 3–7 mg
- Common
- 7–12 mg
- Strong
- 12–20 mg
- Heavy
- 20 mg
| Route | Threshold | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 5 mg | 10–15 mg | 15–25 mg | 25–40 mg | 40 mg |
| Insufflated | 2 mg | 3–7 mg | 7–12 mg | 12–20 mg | 20 mg |
Start at the bottom. Body chemistry, tolerance, and combinations all matter.
Duration.
Oral
total ~ 930 min- Onset
- 45–90 min
- Peak
- 2–4h
- Offset
- 2–4h
- After
- 2–6h
Insufflated
total ~ 495 min- Onset
- 5–15 min
- Peak
- 60–120 min
- Offset
- 60–120 min
- After
- 2–4h
Effects.
Positive
- Bright open- and closed-eye visuals
- Euphoria and giggliness at common doses
- MDMA-like warmth at the low end, psychedelic at the top end
- Music and pattern enhancement
- Sharper sensory perception
Neutral
- Mild stimulation
- Mild pupil dilation
- Time distortion
- Increased sensitivity to touch
Negative
- Nausea and stomach discomfort 30–60 min in (oral)
- Sharp burning sensation when insufflated (strong, not subtle)
- Anxiety at high doses, particularly with stimulants
- Heart-rate elevation
- Risk of vasoconstriction at high doses
Interactions.
Heads up
Many drug combinations are unsafe even at low doses. When in doubt, take less or abstain. Always cross-check with the interaction checker tool.
Dangerous
Combination may cause serious harm. Avoid.
- maois
- tramadol
Unsafe
Substantial risk. Combination not recommended.
- amphetamine
- methamphetamine
- cocaine
- ssris
- dxm
Caution
Mild interaction. Use with reduced doses.
- mdma
- ketamine
- cannabis
- lsd
- mushrooms
- alcohol
Testing.
- ReagentMarquisExpected reactionYellow then olive-green (slow)
- ReagentMeckeExpected reactionYellow to green
- ReagentMandelinExpected reactionYellow then green-black
- ReagentFroehdeExpected reactionYellow then green
- ReagentNotesExpected reactionA non-reactive Marquis on something sold as 2C-B is a red flag. check for 25x-NBOMe series, which give different colours and are not safe replacements.
| Reagent | Expected reaction |
|---|---|
| Marquis | Yellow then olive-green (slow) |
| Mecke | Yellow to green |
| Mandelin | Yellow then green-black |
| Froehde | Yellow then green |
| Notes | A non-reactive Marquis on something sold as 2C-B is a red flag. check for 25x-NBOMe series, which give different colours and are not safe replacements. |
Cross-check with a secondary reagent. Tests tell you what something isn't, not always what it is.
Legal status.
- DEGermanyIllegal
- ATAustriaNPSG-regulated
- CHSwitzerlandIllegal
- NLNetherlandsSchedule I
- BEBelgiumIllegal
- LULuxembourgIllegal
- FRFranceIllegal
- ESSpainIllegal
- PTPortugalDecriminalised
- ITItalySchedule I
- PLPolandIllegal
- CZCzechiaIllegal but tolerated
- SESwedenIllegal
- DKDenmarkIllegal
- NONorwayIllegal
- FIFinlandRegulated
- IEIrelandIllegal
- UKUnited KingdomClass A
- USUnited StatesSchedule I
- CACanadaSchedule III
- AUAustraliaSchedule 9
- TRTurkeyIllegal
- NZNew ZealandClass B
- BRBrazilIllegal
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| DEGermany | Illegal |
| ATAustria | NPSG-regulated |
| CHSwitzerland | Illegal |
| NLNetherlands | Schedule I |
| BEBelgium | Illegal |
| LULuxembourg | Illegal |
| FRFrance | Illegal |
| ESSpain | Illegal |
| PTPortugal | Decriminalised |
| ITItaly | Schedule I |
| PLPoland | Illegal |
| CZCzechia | Illegal but tolerated |
| SESweden | Illegal |
| DKDenmark | Illegal |
| NONorway | Illegal |
| FIFinland | Regulated |
| IEIreland | Illegal |
| UKUnited Kingdom | Class A |
| USUnited States | Schedule I |
| CACanada | Schedule III |
| AUAustralia | Schedule 9 |
| TRTurkey | Illegal |
| NZNew Zealand | Class B |
| BRBrazil | Illegal |
Information, not legal advice. Status varies by region and changes over time.
FAQ.
How long does 2C-B last?
A typical oral 2C-B experience peaks around 120–240 minutes and then tails off, with after-effects that can run several hours. The exact window depends on dose, body weight and what else you've eaten or taken.
Can you overdose on 2C-B?
Yes. Higher doses sharply raise the risk of acute harm (cardiovascular strain, hyperthermia, serotonin issues for serotonergic drugs, respiratory depression for downers). Stick to the lowest dose that gives you the effect you're after, never re-dose blindly, and use our [dose calculator](/tools/dosage-calculator) before you weigh anything out.
Is 2C-B addictive?
2C-B can produce psychological dependence with frequent use, especially in unstable settings or when used to self-medicate. Physical dependence varies by substance class; the safest pattern is occasional use with long breaks (often 4–6 weeks minimum) and an honest read on why you're reaching for it.
What does 2C-B feel like?
Common subjective effects include the ones listed in the Effects section above. Set and setting massively shape the experience: a calm space, trusted people, food eaten, sleep the night before, and your own current mood all matter more than most people expect.
Can you mix 2C-B with alcohol?
Mixing with alcohol is rarely a good idea. it dulls your judgement of how much you've taken, dehydrates you, and stacks cardiovascular load. If alcohol is on the table, drink less than normal, alternate with water, and run the combination through our [interaction checker](/tools/interaction-checker) first.
How do I test 2C-B at home?
A basic reagent kit (Marquis + Mandelin + Mecke for most stimulants/entactogens; Ehrlich for tryptamines) gives you a fast presence check. It does NOT measure dose or purity, but it does rule out the most dangerous misrepresentations. See the [reagent guide](/tools/reagent-guide) for expected colors per reagent.
How much 2C-B is too much?
There's no single number that applies to everyone. As a rule, anything above the 'strong' dose range (25-40 mg for the primary route) carries sharply higher risk of acute harm. Start low, don't redose blindly, and remember that purity varies batch to batch.
How long until 2C-B kicks in?
Onset is typically 45-90 minutes via the primary route. Don't redose because you 'don't feel anything yet.' Many people have overdone it by stacking doses during the come-up window.
Can you build tolerance to 2C-B?
Yes. Regular use builds tolerance, meaning you need more for the same effect. This escalation increases both health risk and dependence potential. The best counter is long breaks between sessions (2-4 weeks minimum for most substances, 3 months for MDMA-class drugs).
Is 2C-B tested for in standard drug screens?
Standard 5-panel workplace tests (SAMHSA-5) do not specifically screen for 2C-B. Extended panels (10-12 panel) or specialized tests may detect it. If testing is a concern, research the specific panel being used.