Tax-free. Without restrictions on either dose or quantity. The nicotine analogue 6-methyl nicotine or "metatine" has arrived in Sweden and is now sold in several shops as an alternative to nicotine in e-cigarettes and e-liquids. But what exactly is it - and why has a so-called synthetic nicotine analogue made its way into Swedish shops?
For those who browse the ranges at Swedish gun shops, a new category has started to appear in the menus over the past six months. Products like "NoNik" and "Metatin" are being launched as alternatives to nicotine in everything from loose e-liquids and shots to rechargeable disposables. These are nicotine analogues - synthetic variants of nicotine - which are considered by some to be both more potent and more effective than nicotine, without the user noticing the difference. Without taxation or other restrictions, e-liquid and single-use metathiones are, so far, significantly cheaper than nicotine. In other words, 'methatine' is available in higher doses and larger packages than regulated nicotine.
But what exactly is 6-methyl nicotine and why is it appearing on the market now?
Started to be launched after ban in the US
The role of methate, or rather nicotine analogues, in the history of vejp started as a solution to the strict US legislation on e-cigarettes. Since 2016, all vejp products are classified as tobacco products under the logic that the nicotine originates from the tobacco plant. This means that, just like analogue cigarettes, each product must obtain costly permits from the FDA to be sold. This is something that most small manufacturers, who carry well over 90 per cent of the market, cannot afford.
As a result, almost all flavoured e-liquids in are currently illegaland that only a few products - mainly from tobacco companies - has been approved. In response to this, the synthetic nicotinewhich the FDA could not initially regulate. When the authorities later gained control over synthetic nicotine as well, the independent ecigarette industry began to develop nicotine analogues - variants of synthetic nicotine with altered molecular structure.
Can replace nicotine in prohibition countries
Methatin, or '6-methyl nicotine', is the first nicotine analogue to reach the market and is essentially unregulated in both the US and Europe, meaning that it can be sold freely without authorisation or the usual restrictions. It is not unlikely that methate could replace many existing vejp products in the US and other countries where nicotine is heavily regulated through various bans and taxes - at least until the legislation changes again.
"Works the same way"
But what is a nicotine analogue? What makes it different from regular and synthetic nicotine? Vejpkollen asked Louise Adermark, nicotine researcher who has long specialised in the effects of nicotine.
"A nicotine analogue works in the same way as nicotine in the body - it binds to the nicotine receptors and the body responds by releasing dopamine, which has the same effect. We therefore assume that a nicotine analogue like 6-methyl nicotine is also addictive - just like nicotine. But unfortunately, there are currently no reliable studies on nicotine analogues and their long-term effects, as there are for nicotine," says Louise Adermark.
Infinite variety
Currently, a number of Chinese companies are developing different nicotine analogues independently - according to official reports it concerns a dozen or so - but there may be more. The variety of nicotine analogues is by nature almost endless. The development of analogues can be compared to variations on synthetic cannabis/THC - where manufacturers get around legislation by changing something in the structure and launching it as a completely new unregulated drug.
"That's the big problem with nicotine analogues. One of the aims is to circumvent the existing legislation on nicotine. Independent research is not keeping up." he says Louise Adermark to Vejpkollen.
Affects in the same way
When it comes to injury risks, she is cautious about drawing any conclusions. There are few studies in this area. At the same time, some researchers, as well as manufacturers, believe that methate is more potent than regular and synthetic nicotine. That is, it would require less of the substance to have the same effect as nicotine, which in turn suggests that the substance could be more addictive than regular nicotine. But Louise Adermark is sceptical about this.
"I have not seen any independent studies that suggest that 6-methyl nicotine would bind more tightly to the nicotinic receptor than regular nicotine. But based on what we know today, and as I said, there are not many studies, there is nothing to suggest that using methate is more or less dangerous than using nicotine. It affects the heart and blood vessels and therefore the blood circulation - albeit temporarily - in the same way as nicotine. For example, we consider that nicotine can be harmful to the unborn child during pregnancy. The same is very likely to be true for methatine." says Louise Adermark.
Cautiously positive
Louise Adermark believes that the development of synthetic nicotine, but not necessarily nicotine analogues, can be seen in a positive light, even by those critical of nicotine use.
"I'm actually cautiously in favour of synthetic nicotine. It's a way of getting away from tobacco itself and all the misery that tobacco growing brings. We are talking about both environmental problems and terrible working conditions. At the same time, it is a purer form of nicotine without traces of the plant kingdom. From a health perspective, it is likely to be better, even though it shares the addictive properties and other risks of nicotine use." she says.
Can reduce dependence - maybe
At the same time, synthetic nicotine opens up opportunities to reduce dependence linked to the nicotinic receptor, says Louise Adermark. At least theoretically, for now.
"Nicotine stays on the nicotinic receptor for quite a long time. If it is possible to find a molecule that sticks for a shorter period of time, it may help to reduce the risks of addiction. Such a development has many advantages, but there are no good studies on this, yet" says Louise Adermark.
"At your own risk"
What should someone who uses nicotine today think? "Metatine" is available in shops, but is it a viable and safe alternative, really?
"Unlike nicotine, this has not been tested in any way. However, I would say that the effects are quite similar. But remember, it's completely unregulated today, not least in terms of its concentration. It can be as high doses as you like. So if you're going to use it, you do so at your own risk." Louise Adermark to Vejpkollen.
"A wet dream"
She is joined by Niklas Linder owner of the e-juice company Swedish Mixology which manufactures nicotine liquid for the Swedish market. He does not sell nicotine analogues himself, but works closely with many Swedish vejp companies and often consults on issues related to e-liquid, chemistry and legislation. He describes the recent period as very busy for 6-methyl nicotine and the new products now being launched on the Swedish market.
"It has been a wet dream for a long time to find a way to rationalise and thus reduce the amount of nicotine that a nicotine addict needs to get the desired effect. According to the manufacturers, and they can say whatever they want here today without any real evidence, 6-methyl nicotine is four times more potent than nicotine. This means that you only need to use a quarter of the substance to get what you need. From that perspective, it is theoretically possible to reduce the risks that actually exists with nicotine, such as high blood pressure, stiff vessels and similar side effects." says Niklas Linder to Vejpkollen.
The Wild West of labelling
Several variants of methyl nicotine are currently available in Swedish vejp shops, both as loose e-liquid and as rechargeable disposable models (more puffs due to larger tank size). Niklas Linder points out, however, that the labelling of products can be confusing for customers. For example, there is currently no industry standard or official regulation on the concentration of nicotine analogues. A traditional nicotine shot, or for that matter even disposable models, are today usually sold at a concentration of 14 or 20 mg/nicotine per millilitre. The maximum allowed concentration is 20 mg/ml. For 6-methyl nicotine there is no such upper limit. However, this does not mean that the dose is actually higher than the nicotine dose. Quite the contrary, according to Niklas Linder.
"Labelling is very different between manufacturers. A common way is to not print how big the dose of "metatine" actually is, but how it corresponds to the current standard for measuring nicotine. For example, it may say "20 mg effect" which would mean that the dose of "metaine" is 5 mg/ml but works equivalent to 20 mg nicotine per millilitre. An effect of 72 mg methaine/ml corresponds to 18.5 mg nicotine/ml. And so on. Others just print the "25 mg" point. It's the wild west." says Niklas Linder.
