Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) - The Law

The Law

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 created five schedules based on a drug's value as a medicine, its chances of causing addiction, and its possibilities for abuse. DMT is a Schedule

One of the ways that DMT is taken is by injection. Anyone who shares a needle to inject street drugs runs the risk of contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis, and other diseases. Photograph by Leitha Etheridge-Sims.
One of the ways that DMT is taken is by injection. Anyone who shares a needle to inject street drugs runs the risk of contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis, and other diseases. Photograph by Leitha Etheridge-Sims.

I drug, meaning that U.S. government authorities consider it one of the most dangerous drugs. Possession of DMT is illegal in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, among other countries. It cannot be prescribed by a doctor for any illness. As a Schedule I drug, DMT possession carries stiff fines and imprisonment. The penalties increase significantly for repeat offenders.

DMT-Like Substances

DMT can be extracted from plants that are legal to buy. However, people can be arrested for creating DMT from those plants, even if they only plan to use it themselves.

Any substance that behaves like DMT—for instance, the hallucinogens foxy and AMT—are considered "controlled substance analogs." Although their names and chemical compositions may not be specifically listed in controlled substance legislation, they are still illegal because they mimic the behavior of other illegal drugs. The same holds true for many of the "research chemicals" sold over the Internet. If the effects of the chemicals mimic DMT—or if the chemicals are used to create DMT—the user/creator violates the law.