Is 4-HO-MET legal in United Kingdom?

Legal status

4-HO-MET is a Class A controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, caught by the generic definition of tryptamines in Schedule 2, Part I, which controls any compound structurally derived from a ring-hydroxy tryptamine by alkyl substitution at the side-chain nitrogen; as a 4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine, 4-HO-MET falls squarely inside that class definition.

Consequences if caught

Class A penalties apply: possession up to 7 years and an unlimited fine, production or supply up to life imprisonment. Because 4-HO-MET is already controlled under the 1971 Act, it sits outside the separate Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

If prescribed or medical

Placed in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 as a hallucinogenic tryptamine with no recognised medical use; lawful handling requires a Home Office licence, so it is not prescribable.

Documentation

Controlled by the generic tryptamine group definition rather than by its own name: the ring-hydroxy, N-alkyl tryptamine class sweeps in the whole 4-HO-DxT family (4-HO-DET, 4-HO-MIPT and the like), of which 4-HO-MET is a member. This is parent-class capture, not an individual 4-HO-MET listing, and contrasts with psilocybin/psilocin, which are named Class A entries.

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