Pinaca (MDMB-4en-PINACA): the synthetic cannabinoid CBD retailers must avoid

By Manon, CBD specialist at Deli Hemp Pro

Pinaca is a synthetic cannabinoid: a molecule made in a laboratory to mimic the effects of THC. It has turned up in products sold as CBD, it is illegal in France and it is linked to serious adverse effects. When we published this warning in January 2025, it was one of the substances most talked about in the trade. Here is what a retailer needs to know to keep it off the shelves.

The truth about synthetic cannabinoids

For some time, a new problem has worried consumers and everyone who grows or distributes CBD: synthetic molecules able to reproduce the effects of THC. Their suppliers often present them as a viable option. They are not. Some of them can genuinely harm the body and expose sellers to serious legal consequences. Pinaca is one of the best known, and it is serious enough to have caught the attention of the health authorities.

What is Pinaca, and why is it a problem?

Pinaca, full name MDMB-4en-PINACA, is a synthetic cannabinoid designed to imitate THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. French law tolerates hemp products with delta-9-THC up to a set threshold (0.3%), but Pinaca is a different matter altogether. In France it is illegal under the Public Health Code (Code de la santé publique). Selling it, buying it or even using it exposes you to heavy criminal penalties, even if you did not know it was there.

Synthetic cannabinoids of this kind are classified as narcotics in France and in other European countries, and their legal status changes quickly. Check the law in your own country before buying or reselling any cannabinoid product.

The trouble is that many of these products carry reassuring labels claiming to be "legal" and compliant. A more thorough test often reveals the molecule. This is not only a legal question but a safety one: Pinaca can cause serious adverse effects, including heart problems, seizures and hallucinations.

Why is it still on the market?

Testing for it is not widespread, and the substance can be hard to detect. Many laboratories do not have the authorisation or the equipment to look for it. That makes it a real challenge for every professional involved in production.

Bodies such as the ANSM, France's medicines and health products safety agency, are aware of the danger and of the limits of the rules that apply to this substance. In January 2025 they were moving to step up checks quickly. As a result, retailers who unknowingly sell contaminated products could face legal proceedings in the years ahead.

The health risks

Unlike THC or CBD, which are natural compounds found in the cannabis plant, Pinaca is a highly toxic and unpredictable substance. Even a small amount can cause serious, potentially fatal side effects. Public health is at stake, and vigilance is the only sensible response.

A reminder on the permitted THC level

In France, CBD products must comply with French law: delta-9-THC no higher than 0.3%. You still have to make sure the products you sell stay strictly within that limit. Regular, rigorous testing, like the testing carried out on our HDH range, is how compliance is checked. Outside France, the status of hemp flowers, resins and other hemp products varies and can be much stricter (in the UK, the status of hemp flower is still contested), so check the resale rules where you trade before ordering.

How can you protect your shop?

There are ways to make sure your products do not contain these dangerous molecules. Simple tests on a sample can detect substances such as Pinaca, and several prevention initiatives offer to test products free of charge. This protects your customers, and it protects the whole CBD sector.

Selling products that contain illegal synthetic cannabinoids does not only put your own business at risk. It damages the credibility of the whole market and gives the authorities a reason to crack down on CBD as a whole. As sellers and manufacturers, we have to guarantee the quality and safety of what we offer.

The Deli Hemp HDH range

For retailers looking for a tested, documented option, we recommend our HDH range. Every product in it goes through rigorous testing to confirm its quality, its compliance and the absence of illegal substances, including synthetic cannabinoids such as Pinaca. THC is strictly controlled and stays below the 0.3% threshold set by French law.

Frequently asked questions

What is MDMB-4en-PINACA?

It is the full name of Pinaca, a synthetic cannabinoid made in a laboratory to imitate THC. It is not found in the hemp plant. In France it is illegal under the Public Health Code, and it is linked to serious adverse effects.

Can you spot Pinaca in a product without a lab test?

No. A product containing it can look and smell like an ordinary CBD product, and its label may claim it is legal. Only a laboratory test, or one of the sample tests offered by prevention initiatives, can detect it.