JWH-019 is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family that acts as a cannabinoid agonist at both the CB<sub>1</sub> and CB<sub>2</sub> receptors. It is the N-hexyl homolog of the more common synthetic cannabinoid compound JWH-018. Unlike the butyl homolog JWH-073, which is several times weaker than JWH-018, the hexyl homolog is only slightly less potent, although extending the chain one carbon longer to the heptyl homolog JWH-020 results in dramatic loss of activity. These results show that the optimum side chain length for CB<sub>1</sub> binding in the naphthoylindole series is the five-carbon pentyl chain, shorter than in the classical cannabinoids where a seven-carbon heptyl chain produces the most potent compounds. This difference is thought to reflect a slightly different binding conformation adopted by the naphthoylindole compounds as compared to the classical cannabinoids, and may be useful in characterizing the active site of the CB<sub>1</sub> and CB<sub>2</sub> receptors.
As of October 2015 JWH-019 is a controlled substance in China.
In Poland, JWH-019 is I-N (Poland).
JWH-019 is illegal in Sweden.
JWH-019 is Class B in the United Kingdom.
JWH-019 is a Schedule I controlled substance, controlled federally in the United States.
JWH-019 has been classified under the BtMG as Anlage II.