Is Mephedrone (4-MMC) legal in New Zealand?
- Legal status
- Controlled — mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone / 4-MMC) is a Class B controlled drug, listed by name in Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. It was added by the Misuse of Drugs (Classification and Presumption of Supply) Order 2022 (SL 2022/35), in force 15 December 2022. A firm named listing (replacing prior control as a cathinone analogue).
- Consequences if caught
- Class B offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975: possession/use punishable by up to 3 months' imprisonment and/or a fine; supplying, dealing, importing or manufacturing punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment, with a presumption-of-supply quantity threshold.
- If prescribed or medical
- No approved medicine contains mephedrone; as a Class B controlled drug it has no ordinary prescription pathway.
- Documentation
- Named in Schedule 2, Part 2 (Class B) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, inserted by the Misuse of Drugs (Classification and Presumption of Supply) Order 2022 (SL 2022/35), commencing 15 December 2022.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with New Zealand’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 →