Is Khat legal in France?
- Legal status
- Banned. PLANT NAMED: Catha edulis is listed by name as a stupéfiant on the consolidated French narcotics list (arrêté du 22 février 1990, tracing to the 1957 decree); the alkaloids cathinone and cathine are also controlled. Mechanism: NAMED (plant).
- Consequences if caught
- Fresh leaf is an illegal narcotic; import and possession lead to seizure and prosecution under the Code de la santé publique narcotics regime.
- If prescribed or medical
- Khat is traditional plant material with no recognised medical use and no lawful prescription route.
- Documentation
- No lawful personal-import route; fresh leaf is prohibited and seized at the border.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with France’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 →