Anyone else bothered by all this off-white MDMA?

Why do people tout a "tan" color - or any color other than white - whenever they list MDMA? Being forthright is certainly appreciated, but why isn't this product being edged-out competitively by purer MDMA with sparkly white crystals?

Academically speaking, off-colored MDMA can be purified using OTC reagents. The steps would be roughly:

  1. Recrystallize from boiling 99% IPA
  2. Filter fresh product
  3. Wash with cold, anhydrous acetone
  4. Vac.-filter dry

Loss in weight: ~8-15%, but that was never product in the first place! If you're going to cut the product, use a safe, non-neuro-toxic cut. Or... don't be a greedy dickwad & cut the product. Pure product will keep peeps coming back & leads to more profit in the long run anyways, if that's your m.o.

MDMA impurity byproducts from clandestine labs are potentially quite toxic. These can come from:

I hate to quote bluelight.org, but I was looking for an older report I had read years ago on The Hive (former Bee here) about MDMA impurities formed from clandestine manufacturing, and came across this gem:

A major health concern with any illicit production of MDMA is in the final step of reductive amination. If any of the allyl starting material or its propylene isomer are present during this stage, these will be reduced but not aminated, and a very toxic, probably carcinogenic, chemical will result i.e. 1,2-(methylenedioxy)-4-propylbenzene. While its possible to remove this, one wonders how much time the typical crook-cook would spend on it, as some product will always be lost with any purification. The often mentioned sassy or aniseed [sic] odour of pills, which is frequently interpreted to mean a "good" pill, should in fact be seen as a warning that the starting material may have been present during the (RA) step.

Also if the product smells fishy, this could indicate residual methylamine (formaldehyde + ammonia reax. smells like rotting deathburgers), a closely related impurity, or even an impurity formed during the methylamine production that is later introduced.

But moreover, do a little Pepsi challenge next time you acquire a good quantity of MDMA -- take some of it & clean it up with coffee filters, mason jars, & 99% isopropyl alcohol (search DuckDuckGo for that shit). Or just get some pure product. Then take it and you will FOR SURE know the difference. The aforementioned Hive thread had something about the pharmacological effects of amphetamine impurities actually having the reverse qualitative effect on people during the studies... Res ipsa loquitur.


Comments


[6 Points] ImGonnaKickTomorrow:

I think tan MDMA is perceived as less likely to be methylone or some other RC.


[4 Points] enterathrowaway:

People are just gullible, I guess. The best MDMA I've ever had was some clear white MDMA in gelcaps from Aidoneus about a year ago. Just ordered some white from Platinum Standard, hopefully it lives up to the hype.


[2 Points] None:

Some people think that impurities from synthesis help prove that it is real MDMA and not some research chemical.


[1 Points] makashka:

I prefer the tan. But I live where there is little sun, so that could have something to do with i


[1 Points] Honestuseraccount:

I always thought tan MDMA just used different precursors and therefore had slight different impurities. It makes sense that pure MDMA HCl would be clear (white) crystals, though.

Some of the best highs I've had was tan and I actually specifically look for tan. Maybe I shouldn't.


[1 Points] Foolish_ness:

I believe the tan colour is generally safrole leftover from production - also accounts for a 'root beer' kinda smell.
But of course being white can still be a very low purity. I know in my early days, if ever out and offered some, I'd prefer seeing tan over white - but that's more because of the situation and it being white means there could be any variety of things in the baggy, tan - less so.
All in all colour should never be used to gauge quality of MDMA.
Question about your clean: aren't many MDMA contaminants non-soluble in acetone though? Which would mean that you're giving it a clean, but you still couldn't put a number on the purity


[1 Points] None:

Couldn't agree more. Many of us are buying for resale, and I'm not sure about y'all but I hate having to explain to some dipshit why there are color variations in batches. Sure they could sell you white MDA or something else, but that's why you buy from highly trusted vendors who don't sell bk and will give you the clean wash white MDMA


[0 Points] blueskykin:

Lots of people try to pass off research chemicals or bath salts as MDMA, but the tan shards are pretty distinct to MDMA.


[0 Points] UndefinedExperience:

Not in the slightest am I bothered by it. I tend to have better things to worry about than trying to change the quality standard for the MDMA market worldwide. Also I don't know about everyone else, but I tend to not even notice the difference in potency between brown sugar and clear MDMA crystal. They are somewhat two different kind of rolls, one more mellow and lovey, the white being more speedy and refined. It's a to each their own kind of subject. However I have never read anywhere that these impurities are essentially dangerous. More so you can never get 100% MDMA crystal, it has been proven there is only a certain percentage you can achieve by washing whether you have white or tan, it is still roughly the same potency and quality. Since you will never find 100% pure MDMA crystals without some type of byproduct from synthesis this argument is pretty much kicking a dead horse.