Is 4-HO-MET legal in Germany?

Legal status

4-HO-MET is controlled in Germany under the New Psychoactive Substances Act (Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz, NpSG), caught by the indole-3-ylalkylamine (tryptamine) substance group added to the NpSG Anlage in the July 2019 amendment; as an indol-3-ylalkylamine below the 500 u molecular-mass ceiling it falls within the group, which exempts only tryptamine itself, serotonin and melatonin.

Consequences if caught

The NpSG prohibits producing, trading, importing/exporting, administering to another person and placing the substance on the market, with penalties up to 3 years (up to 10 years where health is endangered or minors are involved). Distinctively, the NpSG does not criminalise simple possession or acquisition for personal use.

If prescribed or medical

Not a prescribable Betäubungsmittel: 4-HO-MET is captured as an NpSG substance-group compound rather than listed in a BtMG Anlage, and has no authorised medical use.

Documentation

Reached by structural substance-group capture (the tryptamine / indolalkylamine group) rather than being scheduled by name, so the NpSG's group approach absorbs ring- and N-substituted tryptamines wholesale. This differs from psilocin, an individually listed BtMG narcotic.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Germany’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.