Is Lorazepam legal in Lesotho?

Also known as: ativan

Legal status

Lorazepam is a risk drug under the Drugs of Abuse Act No. 5 of 2008, in Schedule 3, printed page 812. The gazette prints it run together with the next entry as "LorazepamLormetazepam", which is two entries, Lorazepam and Lormetazepam, in the block taken from Schedule IV of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Under s3 a risk drug is a substance listed in Schedule 3, and a risk drug is a drug of abuse. Schedule 3 is the least strict tier under s4(2).

Consequences if caught

The printed offence for acquiring or administering a drug of abuse without a licence is s9(1)(b), with the s9(6) penalty of "imprisonment not less than 5 years or a fine not less than M20,000 or both". Supply on any terms is trafficking under s43(1), which prints "imprisonment for a period not less than 20 years or a fine not less than M1,000,000 or both". Section 87 presumes the accused possessed a drug of abuse found on their person or in a place they control, until the contrary is proved. For Part III offences, s49(2) lists aggravating grounds a court must take into account. The penalty clauses printed in the Act set minimums and name no maximum.

If prescribed or medical

For lorazepam, s10 reads: "any person undergoing treatment of a medical condition, who is entering, leaving or passing through Lesotho, may possess such quantities of a drug of abuse (where prescribed) as may be reasonably expected for the purposes of such treatment." Section 3 defines "prescribed" as "prescribed by regulations" and "prescription" as "a written direction by a practitioner that a stated amount of a drug of abuse be dispensed for the person named on it", so "(where prescribed)" can mean either. The Act does not choose, and no regulation under s10 was found. Under s29(5) a prescription needs the prescribed form, legible writing, the practitioner's name, address, qualifications and registration number, the patient's name and address, the drug's name, quantity, form and strength, and the practitioner's signature and date. An urgent oral prescription needs written confirmation within 24 hours (s29(6)). Supplying on a prescription issued more than 3 months before presentation is an offence (s44(6)(b)). The Act does not say whether a foreign prescription qualifies.

Documentation

Drawn from s3, s4, s9, s10, s28, s29, s43, s49 and s87 of the Act, and from Schedule 3, printed page 812, where the entry is printed as "LorazepamLormetazepam". The Schedules were read as printed in the gazette of 27 May 2008; no later amendment was found as at 2 November 2026, but s6 lets the Minister amend them and a missing amendment is not proof that none exists. The Act does not say whether the run together printing affects how the entry is read, and no court judgment was found.

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