Is Cathinone legal in Timor-Leste?

Legal status

Cathinone, the parent beta-ketone amphetamine, is named directly in Table II-A of Lei n.º 2/2017's Anexo II, item 8: "Catinona - (-)-(alfa)-aminopropiofenona" (cathinone, minus-alpha-aminopropiophenone). Cathine, cathinone's reduced relative, sits separately in Table II-B item 2 ("Catina"), and mephedrone, a ring-methylated cathinone derivative, sits separately in Table II-A item 26; the three are each named in their own right rather than through a class clause. Article 2, paragraph 1, subparagraph d, defines "droga" as any plant, substance or preparation covered by Tables I to IV; article 3 makes the tables integral to the law. This reading is as printed 25 January 2017, read on 7 October 2026.

Consequences if caught

Article 7, paragraph 1, of Lei n.º 2/2017 ("Quem, sem se encontrar autorizado, cultivar, produzir, fabricar, extrair, preparar, oferecer, puser à venda, vender, distribuir, comprar, ceder ou por qualquer título receber, proporcionar a outrem, transportar, importar, exportar, fizer transitar ou ilicitamente detiver, fora dos casos previstos no artigo 26.º, plantas, substâncias ou preparados compreendidos nas tabelas I a III é punido com pena de prisão de 5 a 15 anos", whoever, without being authorised, cultivates, produces, manufactures, extracts, prepares, offers, puts up for sale, sells, distributes, buys, transfers or by any title receives, supplies to another, transports, imports, exports, causes to transit or unlawfully holds, outside the cases in article 26, plants, substances or preparations in Tables I to III, is punished with imprisonment of 5 to 15 years) is the base band for cathinone, a Table II-A substance. Article 7, paragraph 2, raises this to 6 to 16 years where an authorisation existed and was acted against. Article 9 adds two thirds to both the minimum and maximum of article 7 where a listed aggravating factor applies, and article 10 sets 10 to 25 years, 12 to 25 for a leader, for founding or directing a group formed to commit an article 7 offence. Article 11, paragraph 1, subparagraph a, sets a reduced band of 1 to 5 years where illicitude is considerably diminished. Anexo I prints no daily reference quantity for cathinone itself, so the fivefold quantity test in article 11, paragraph 2, has no stated figure to apply here. Article 26 answers personal consumption and possession for personal use separately, at imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 120 days.

If prescribed or medical

Lei n.º 2/2017 does not itself create a medical prescription or supply route for cathinone. Article 6, paragraph 1, subjects cultivation, production, manufacture, use, commerce, distribution, import, export, transit, transport, advertising and possession of Table I to IV substances to licensing, conditions and authorisations issued by the Ministério da Saúde, "nos termos a definir em diploma próprio" (on terms to be defined in a separate instrument), which has not been located. Decreto-Lei n.º 2/2025 governs pharmacy retail licensing generally and does not designate which Table I to IV substances a doctor may prescribe, so it is not read as a prescription route for cathinone.

Documentation

Cathinone sits in Table II-A by its own name, item 8, and does not need the khat question answered to be controlled: this entry covers the isolated beta-ketone amphetamine itself, not the plant. Whether khat leaf, which naturally carries cathinone and cathine, is itself reached by Table II-B's preparations clause is answered separately on khat's own page. Personal possession and consumption of cathinone are answered by article 26 (up to 1 year or a fine up to 120 days); cultivation, production, manufacture, extraction, preparation, offering, sale, distribution, purchase, transfer, transport, import, export and unauthorised possession for any other purpose collapse into article 7's single list, at 5 to 15 years (6 to 16 if an authorisation existed and was breached).

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