Is Ketamine legal in China?
Also known as: ket, special k
- 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
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Court records
We have not yet assessed whether court records are publicly available for this jurisdiction.
Other substances confirmed in China
Same substance, other countries
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
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 →