Is Ketamine legal in China?
- Legal status
- Category I psychotropic substance (氯胺酮) under the Regulation on the Administration of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs; sentencing under Criminal Law art. 347 and the 2016 Supreme People's Court Drug Crimes Interpretation (ketamine ≥100 g = 'relatively large'; ≥500 g = 'large quantity').
- Consequences if caught
- Penalties scale sharply with quantity, from detention or short terms up to life imprisonment or, at a 'large quantity' (ketamine ≥500 g) under Criminal Law art. 347(2), the DEATH PENALTY — ketamine carries capital exposure at high trafficking quantities. Personal possession is also criminal.
- If prescribed or medical
- Available only through strictly controlled medical channels.
- Documentation
- Written documentation from a medical institution proving the medicine is necessary; customs verifies the amount against the original prescription and retains a copy (one prescription = one inspection). Psychotropic-drug allowances can be as short as a 3–7 day supply.
- Criminal Law art. 347
- 2016 SPC Drug Crimes Interpretation (ketamine ≥500 g = capital-eligible 'large quantity')
- loc.gov
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with China’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
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