What is the legal status of psilocybin, ketamine and ibogaine abroad?

Psilocybin, ketamine and ibogaine are treated very differently from one country to the next. This guide reports what official documents say, with a link to each.

This guide is not legal or medical advice. Laws change. Check the current law in your own country and in the destination before you travel, and remember that a legal status abroad does not change the law at home.

Which countries does this guide cover?

Only countries and substances whose status was confirmed in a primary document: a law, a regulation, an official list or a statement from a government body. A country missing here has not been found legal or illegal; it has simply not been confirmed.

Where is psilocybin available only inside a regulated programme?

• Czech Republic. The consolidated Addictive Substances Act 167/1998, in the version from 1 January 2026, allows psilocybin for medical use for limited therapeutic purposes in psychiatric hospitals, under special supervision set out in the Act. The Ministry of Health's bulletin 21/2025 publishes the professional procedure for this treatment.
• Switzerland. The Federal Office of Public Health grants exemptions for the restricted medical use of prohibited narcotics. Only the treating physician can apply, and exemptions cover patients resident in Switzerland. An expert report for the Office states that treatments with psilocybin have been authorised since 2021.
• Canada. Health Canada says that production, sale and possession of magic mushrooms are illegal unless authorised. It names three routes: clinical trials, the Special Access Program (requested by a health care practitioner on a patient's behalf) and individual exemptions under section 56(1).
• United States — Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority states that psilocybin services at licensed service centres are open to people aged 21 or older, without Oregon residency, after a preparation session with a licensed facilitator; no prescription or medical referral is required.
• United States — New Mexico. The Department of Health says the Medical Psilocybin Act was signed in April 2025, that enrolment has not yet started, and that its goal is to enrol the first patients by the end of December 2026.
• New Zealand. Medsafe explains that, outside research, practitioners need approval under regulation 22 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977 to prescribe, supply and administer psychedelics such as psilocybin for a defined clinical purpose.

What is the position on truffles in the Netherlands?

In an answer to parliamentary questions, received on 28 December 2011, the Minister of Health stated that psychedelic truffles (sclerotia) do not fall under the Opium Act, and that this was known when 186 species of hallucinogenic mushrooms were placed on List II of the Opium Act from 1 December 2008. The answer concerns truffles; it does not discuss psilocybin as a substance.

Where is psilocybin prohibited?

• Mexico. The 2017 reform decree to the General Health Law lists psilocybin and hallucinogenic mushrooms of any botanical variety in article 245, fraction I.
• Costa Rica. The Ministry of Health's national control list places psilocybin among psychotropic substances of List I.
• Brazil. ANVISA's RDC 762/2022 lists psilocybin in List F2, part of List F, the substances whose use is proscribed in Brazil.
• Peru. DIGEMID's catalogue of controlled substances lists psilocybin in List IB and quotes DS 023-2001: production, trade and use of List IA and IB substances are prohibited.
• Bahamas. The Dangerous Drugs (Application) Order, 2024 lists psilocybine in Schedule I of its psychotropic drugs part.
• Spain. Royal Decree 2829/1977 lists psilocybin in List I and prohibits the use, trade and possession of List I substances, except authorised scientific use.
• United Kingdom. The Home Office list of controlled drugs places psilocin, and any fungus containing psilocin or an ester of psilocin, in Class A, Schedule 1.
• United States — federal. The DEA's list of controlled substances places psilocybin and psilocyn in Schedule I.

What is the legal status of ketamine?

• Mexico. The federal medicines catalogue lists ketamine injection for the induction of general anaesthesia.
• Costa Rica. The national control list places ketamine and esketamine among psychotropic substances.
• Jamaica. The Ministry of Health's essential medicines list includes ketamine injection among intravenous anaesthetic agents.
• Peru. The national essential medicines list includes ketamine injection among general anaesthetics.
• Bahamas. The 2024 Order lists ketamine, including esketamine, in Schedule II of its psychotropic drugs part.
• Portugal. An INFARMED assessment report concerns esketamine (Spravato) nasal spray, which holds a marketing authorisation; public funding was refused in July 2022. The report does not cover ketamine itself.
• Czech Republic. The medicines agency SÚKL noted on 13 March 2026 that the registered ketamine injection was unavailable because of supply interruptions,.
• Germany. Ketamine and esketamine are listed in Annex 1 of the Prescription Medicines Ordinance, the list of prescription-only substances.
• Switzerland. Swissmedic announced that ketamine was added to list b of the narcotics ordinance from 1 May 2019, with prescription on a normal prescription.
• Spain. The patient leaflet for a ketamine injection authorised by AEMPS says it is given only in hospitals, by an anaesthetist or an intensive-care doctor.
• United Kingdom. The Home Office list places ketamine in Class B, Schedule 2.
• Canada. Health Canada states that ketamine is in Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and is illegal unless authorised for medical, scientific or industrial purposes.
• United States — federal. The DEA list places ketamine in Schedule III.
• New Zealand. The Medsafe data sheet for a ketamine injection classifies it as a C4 controlled drug.
• Australia. NSW Health lists ketamine among Schedule 8 medicines.

What about ibogaine?

• Czech Republic. The Ministry of Health stated in 2025 that neither the iboga plant nor ibogaine is on any list of the government regulation on addictive substances.
• United States — federal. The DEA list places ibogaine in Schedule I.
• New Zealand. In 2009 the Medicines Classification Committee recommended that ibogaine and its metabolite noribogaine be classified as prescription medicines.

What have regulators said about the risks?

• Psilocybin, Canada. Health Canada says short-term increases in heart rate and blood pressure could be harmful to people with cardiac disease; that people with, or predisposed to, psychiatric conditions may face a greater risk of adverse reactions, an association still being evaluated; and that impaired judgement during a frightening experience can lead to risk-taking, injury or death.
• Psilocybin, Czech Republic. The procedure in bulletin 21/2025 requires a psychiatrist to assess eligibility, and a doctor responsible for special supervision throughout the session, including monitoring of mental state, blood pressure and pulse.
• Ibogaine, Costa Rica. The Ministry of Health warned in January 2025 that ibogaine overdose causes seizures, arrhythmias or even cardiorespiratory arrest, and that the products concerned have no sanitary registration.
• Ibogaine, Canada. Health Canada reported in 2017 that it had received serious and fatal adverse reaction reports linked to ibogaine, and that it had advised the public in June 2015 not to use it.
• Ibogaine, Brazil. ANVISA states that ibogaine treatments are not regulated, that it has not assessed the substance, and that any sale of it in Brazil is illegal.

What does this guide not tell you?

It does not tell you whether any of these substances suits you, and it does not describe doses or providers. It is not legal or medical advice. Laws and official lists change; before you book, check the current law in your own country and in the destination, and speak to your own doctor about your health and medicines.

Checked on 29 October 2026.