Is Khat legal in United Kingdom?
- Legal status
- Controlled. PLANT NAMED: khat (the leaves, stems and shoots of Catha edulis) is individually scheduled as a Class C controlled drug in Part III of Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, added by SI 2014/1352 in force 24 June 2014; the alkaloids cathinone and cathine are separately controlled. Mechanism: NAMED (plant).
- Consequences if caught
- Possession of fresh leaf is a Class C offence (up to 2 years); supply/production/import up to 14 years. Fresh khat is routinely seized at UK airports.
- If prescribed or medical
- Khat is traditional plant material with no recognised medical use and no lawful prescription or medical-import route.
- Documentation
- No lawful personal-import route; perishable fresh leaf is prohibited to carry or mail into the UK and is seized at the border.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with United Kingdom’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
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 →