Jack3d Banned in Canada - Is the US Next?

Would you question your bodybuilding supplement if it was banned by an entire country's government because it contained a dangerous ingredient?

Developed for personal use by an experienced bodybuilder who was sick of the filler-products that crowded the market, the pre-workout formula, Jack3d, has skyrocketed in the bodybuilding and fitness world as one of the most effective supplements to hit the shelves. Naturally though, any supplement that becomes this popular over night and delivers the kind of intense results that Jack3d has is bound to be scrutinized under the public eye.

Jack3d Ingredient: Geranium, Declared Illegal

In April 2011, the ingredient 1,3 Dimethylamylamine (also known as Geranium or Methylhexaneamine) was declared an illegal drug in Canada, and all products containing it were pulled from shelves. This included workout supplements like Jack3d, Hemo Rage Black, M5 Extreme, and others, which use Geranium to boost adrenaline levels in order to produce more effectove workouts. Like Jack3d, all of these products take advantage of geranium to deliver intense muscle pumps during workouts, but what Canada (and we’re sure many other countries to follow) is wondering is if this enhancement in athletic performance comes at a price your health might not be willing to pay.

Although only recently declared illegal in Canada, this is not the first time Geranium has been banned. Due to the effects of Geranium, in 2009 the World Anti-Doping Agency added Geranium Methylhexanamine to its list of prohibited drugs, and many professional athletes have been suspended due to methylhexanamine showing up in their drug tests.

But because Jack3d was such a popular workout supplement, many are claiming that they can’t continue to train without it and have cried out against these bans. According to USP Labs themselves, “Geranium has been safely used as an herbal supplement for centuries and is safe in small doses.” This ingredient is sold in pure supplement form in health food stores all over the world as a supposed remedy for memory loss, healing wounds, reducing fever, calming agitation, and easing irritability. Isn’t it interesting that for these purposes it’s ok, but as soon as athletic performance is positively affected, the supplement is put under the microscope?

Why Ban it Now?

Why, then, is 1,3 Dimethylamylamine considered a prohibited drug by the World Anti-Doping Agency?
Right now, it is tough to say. The FDA has not approved Geranium because there simply isn’t enough research out there to make a concrete decision. There have been no long-term studies conducted on the effects of its usage, and current bans are based on it acting similar to other banned drugs like amphetamine and Tuaminoheptane. If Geranium was proven to act like amphetamine, it may have a chance at being banned here in the US.

Geranium does positive in some drug tests as an amphetamine (or as a derivative of meth), which is considered an illegal drug in Canada (and most everywhere else). Anyone found in possession of amphetamines in Canada can be penalized with a charge of $2,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both. This helps explain part of why Canada pulled all products containing Geranium from the shelves. And also helps explain the addictive tendencies some bodybuilders have toward Jack3d and similar products.

For athletes in the NCAA or other organizations who administer drug tests, steer clear of Jack3d or other supplements containing 1,3 Dimethylamylamine, since most will run tests based on the World Anti-Doping Agency standards.

How Will This Effect the U.S.?

The majority of Jack3d users in the US, however, can breathe easy knowing that there will be no discussion about it being banned until more research is done on 1,3 Dimethylamylamine.