Is Khat legal in Tonga?

Also known as: qat, miraa, quaadka

Legal status

NAMED. Schedule 1 (page 23), under the heading «OTHER ILLICIT DRUGS», lists: «Ketamine / Khat / Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) / Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) / 1, 4-butanediol (tetramethylene glycol) / Anabolic and androgenic substances / Growth hormones / 4-bromo 2, 5 dimethoxyamphetamine (Bromo DMA)». "Khat" is named directly in that list. This heading sits under the single "CLASS A" heading printed at the top of Schedule 1 (page 21); the Act's own Endnotes confirm the only separately classed heading, "CLASS B", is an insertion by Act 18 of 2012 covering only the cannabis sub-list that follows it, so khat is correctly Class A. Khat's two principal active alkaloids are independently named as well: "Cathinone" (Schedule I of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971, page 21) and "Cathine" (Schedule III of the same Convention, page 22).

Consequences if caught

Khat (Catha edulis), and its two controlled alkaloids, cathinone and cathine, are each Class A drugs under Schedule 1. Under section 3 of the Act, as substituted by Act 15 of 2020 section 3, unlawful import or export of a Class A drug is liable, for less than 1 gram, to a fine not exceeding 10,000 pa'anga or imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or both; for 1 gram or more, to a fine not exceeding 1,000,000 pa'anga or imprisonment for any period not exceeding life or both; and for 28 grams or more, to life imprisonment. Under section 4, as amended by Act 15 of 2020 section 4 and Act 19 of 2021 section 3, the same bands apply to possession, manufacture, cultivation, use or supply, except the top band is 5 kilograms or more; section 4(2) deems 0.25 grams or more to be supplying. Khat covers a plant and its two principal controlled alkaloids together, cathinone and cathine, rather than a single compound; the plant material, fresh or dried, and extracts of either alkaloid are each covered.

If prescribed or medical

No entry for khat, Catha edulis, cathine or cathinone was located in the Therapeutic Goods Act 2001, No. 3 of 2001, or the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 2011, 2020 Revised Edition; neither instrument prints a name specific schedule admitting khat or its alkaloids as a prescribable medicine.

Documentation

Searched against Illicit Drugs Control Act 2003 Schedule 1, pages 21 to 23, for "khat" and "Catha edulis; cathine; cathinone"; located directly at page 23 under «OTHER ILLICIT DRUGS», with cathinone and cathine separately named at pages 21 and 22. Also checked against the Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) Act 2020, the Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) Act 2021, the Drugs and Poisons Act 1930 Schedule A and Part III, the Therapeutic Goods Act 2001, and the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 2011; none of the secondary instruments names khat separately. Two further amending Acts, the Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) (No.1) Act 2024 and the Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2024, are listed in the Attorney General's legislation index but their PDFs returned HTTP 404 from the official portal checked independently in this session on 2026-10-07; if either altered the Schedule 1 wording for this entry, that is not verified here. Section 6 of the Act exempts a travelling medical patient for up to one month with written doctor authority; section 7 exempts a lawful occupation and the Ministry of Health.

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