How to distinguish different kinds or qualities of MDMA? (white, brown, washed, etc?)

When comparing MDMA crystals from different vendors, I notice some differences and descriptions that I'm wondering about.

First of all, some MDMA looks almost white (not just when powdered, I mean also in crystal form) to gray, and some have a strong brown color, light to dark. Here's a screenshot with different MDMA samples: (all crystals)

http://i.imgur.com/vJAdbJJ.jpg

There are all from product pages specifying "pure MDMA 84%" (with 84% the maximum purity that's chemically possible).

Then I sometimes read descriptions like: "MDMA made from Chinese PMK oil (not that eastern EU crap)". Or "washed with acetone".

I'm not familiar with the chemical process of mdma synthesis. What of the above seems legit, what seems crap? What should I look out for when searching for the best possible MDMA?

(edit) Thanks for the responses so far. I wasn't specifically worried about the 84%, I understand where that comes from. What I am clueless about, is what to make of descriptions like Chinese PMK oil vs Eastern EU crap, what? Or "washed with acetone", what?? Is MDMA with such descriptions on the product page to be taken seriously, or discarded as bogus?

I want to make sure I get the best stuff. I rather pay some more and get top quality.


Comments


[7 Points] None:

The only way to really determine purity is gas chromatography and mass spectrometry testing. Use a reagent test to make sure it is MDxx as /u/Xeriscaping5336835 said. If you really want to determine purity you could potentially send a sample into energy control/ecstasy data. It's a bit pricey but the community always appreciates it!


[7 Points] Xeriscaping5336835:

Color isn't a significant indicator of overall purity.

You just need to reagent test it to be sure it's MDx.


[5 Points] -SeedofChaos-:

84% MDMA is an attempt at expressing 100% MDMA, but in a way that almost assures it is not.

MDMA comes in a salt, you generally don't want freebase MDMA. By weight, 84% is the portion that is "pure" MDMA and the other 16% is the hydrochloride in "methylenedioxymethamphetamine hydrochloride". There is only one kind of "methylenedioxymethamphetamine hydrochloride" or else it would be called something else because it's a different chemical.

In other words, they're confirming it's not freebase, and that they don't know much else about it.

I have seen chemical spectrometry devices that are available and somewhat affordable recently but they're probably shitty. Actual ones are few and far between because they are massively expensive.


[5 Points] Vendor_BBMC:

I'm better known as a methamphetamine specialist, but I only tried meth for the first time in 2008, when me and my girlfriend ran out of ecstasy one night and got some ice from her flatmate, who sold both.

I first got high on MDMA 20 years earlier, in 1988. A tablet cost more than $100 in today's money, and the quality was terrible compared to the great stuff we get today.

MDMA is considered a "going out" drug, but most of you will have discovered that its probably better to "party at home" with your woman. When its at its slightly trippy, overwhelming peak its nice to be somewhere comfortable. It's a psychotherapy drug which breaks down barriers, creates empathy, and makes you more open to sharing your feelings - it's an "empathogen", which is the thing which separates it from your standard trippy drugs and gives it its magic.

The methylene dioxy bridge is the "MD" part of MDMA, and is responsible for these effects. It causes changes in the amount of serotonin released, and the way it works. Its only slightly trippy, but all that serotonin causes some of the effects like nystagmus ("eye twitching"), jaw clenching, chattering teeth, and an inability to achieve orgasm. You feel more "loved up" than sexy, but most of you will have half-remembered flashbacks of a sexy woman dancing in front of you semi-naked, while you try to focus your jumping eyes on her.

As MDMA wears off, its serotonin-mediated effects wear off first. Then you can have some mad sex, due to the 3rd and fourth letters - "MA" - methamphetamine.

Dr Alexander Shulgin is "the father of MDMA" (but not its discoverer), and he made and tested hundreds and hundreds of "tinkered with" versions of amphetamine and methamphetamine, discovering many promising compounds like 2C-B. he noted that the amphetamine version of compounds are always superior to the methamphetamine versions, with 2 notable exceptions- MDMA, and methamphetamine.

The brown colour and liquorice smell of some MDMA crystal is just safrole or sassafras oil left from the synthesis. They have no effect and aren't toxic in small quantities (sassafras is the flavoring in root beer, and safrole can be found in many spices.

Pre-darknet, I used to sell BBMC meth via the Chinese dealer network, and we often used to do swaps where I'd have some of tghere MDMA crystal. Often, they would have a white one and a brown one, and the brown was always the most popular (and better) one.

DSo don't worry about a bit of brown, red or tan colour. it just shows that its made from safrole from an oil found in the bark of a tree. like all nature-derived drugs, there are a few closely-related compounds present so the high will be a little more complex. some would say more interesting. It produces racemic (D and L) MDMA in a process almost identical to making bulk racemic meth or "crank" except wityh a bit sticking out of the back of it (the methylene dioxy bridge).

MDMA doesn't need to be extremely pure like meth, because you don't smoke it. You eat it, or shove it up your bum. In my opinion, the worst contaminant is MDA.

Some people claim to love MDA. personally, I think its a fucking awful compound. Speedy, sweaty, body discomfort, and the empathy is replaced by trippiness. But not wise trippiness, with psychological breakthroughs and revelations. Just miserable, twitchy bad trip grimness. You feel it in the atmosphere of clubs where there are a lot of bad pills with some MDA in them circulating. Nobody's eyes are smiling.

In my opinion, the only impurity that matters is MDA. There's nothing you can do to get it out, either. Acetone washes, even recrystalizations make no difference. All you can do is buy MDMA and if you like it, buy more.


[3 Points] BoroughsofLondon:

MDMA is normally synthesized using safrole or one of its derivatives. Safrole is a tightly-watched chemical that has a few legitimate uses, but none of them call for the kind of bulk that the European manufacturers would need to meet the demand for MDMA. Instead they use PMK (you'll also see it called MDP2P), which comes from China and is produced and imported in ultra bulk. I have no idea if the Chinese are producing the PMK legally or not. Canadian MDMA is more often than not made with safrole oil. I think that could account for the price difference (Canadian MDMA is a good 10-20 dollars more expensive per gram).

In terms of practical differences, I've heard that PMK MDMA produces a more stoned, couch lock feeling and MDMA made using safrole is more euphoric and energetic. I have no idea if that's true or not.

Acetone is a solvent used to remove synth impurities, which are what give MDMA the distinctive brown color. The big European producers acetone wash the hell out of their MDMA before it ever leaves the lab. This is why a lot of the Dutch and German MDMA is white and clear.

I have absolutely no idea what the Eastern European shit actually is, but I've heard it referred to as glue blocks.


[1 Points] None:

My brain was fried long before trying European MDMA. In my experience though, and a lot of people will tell me it doesn't make a difference but the stuff made with PMK is missing something. It doesn't feel as loved up and speedier than the stuff made where I live with sassafras oil. Colour wise, a clean looking white crystal just means the chemist went the extra mile and washed it with acetone. I've seen vendors selling the white shit and brown shit for the same price.


[1 Points] druggieslut:

Look, 84 percent is the white shit. It's pure. Uncut. Will make you fall into a cuddle puddle so fast. Light brown is 76 percent, it's a Lil speedier. Dark brown is 45 percent..

Just kidding. It's all bull. If you want to know the purity it's gotta be lab tested. And the 84 percent crap is crap, hydrochloride is not a impurity, it's part of the drug