Is Khat legal in Portugal?
- Legal status
- Khat (Catha edulis) — controlled (grey zone for the leaf). PLANT reported as NOT specifically listed in the narcotics tables; control attaches to the ALKALOIDS cathinone/cathine under Decreto-Lei 15/93, reinforced for synthetic cathinones and NPS by Decreto-Lei 54/2013. Mechanism: alkaloid/class + NPS framework; plant unnamed.
- Consequences if caught
- Leaf is caught via its cathinone content and the NPS law; import and possession expose the carrier to seizure and penalties (personal use is administrative under decriminalisation).
- 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 for the leaf; caught via its cathinone content and the 2013 NPS framework.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Portugal’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
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Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
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