Is Ayahuasca legal in Singapore?
- Legal status
- Singapore treats the ayahuasca brew as a Class A controlled drug and, unusually, names the plants directly: the Central Narcotics Bureau lists Banisteriopsis caapi ('Caapi / Ayahuasca / Yage') and Psychotria viridis ('Chacruna') among plants containing the controlled substance DMT, stating that plants and their derivatives containing controlled drugs are illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act; the preparation is thus caught exactly as DMT, with NO religious exemption.
- Consequences if caught
- Import, trafficking, possession or consumption of the ayahuasca brew is a Class A offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act; trafficking carries a minimum of 5 years' imprisonment and caning, with capital thresholds for large quantities.
- If prescribed or medical
- DMT and the ayahuasca brew have no medical or prescription status in Singapore; DMT is a prohibited Class A controlled drug.
- Documentation
- The CNB 'Plants that contain controlled drugs' listing expressly names ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi) and chacruna (Psychotria viridis) as DMT-containing controlled plants; the tryptamine generic covering DMT was added to the First Schedule (Class A) in 2016.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Singapore’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →