Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Legal Status
U.S. FEDERAL LAW #
Caution : All legal information should be verified through other sources. [see below]
U.S. FEDERAL LEGAL SUMMARY | |
Methylphenidate | |
REGULATED | Yes |
STATUS | Scheduled |
SCHEDULE | Schedule II |
CLASSIFICATION | Stimulant |
Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is Schedule II in the United States. This means it is illegal to sell without a DEA license and illegal to buy or possess without a license or prescription.
INTERNATIONAL LAW #
Australia #
Controlled, requires prescription or license. Prescriptions recorded by central government. Illegal to buy or possess Methylphenidate without prescription. Illegal to sell or give without a license.
Brazil #
Methylphenidate is schedule A3, requiring a prescription for purchase and a license to sell. We have been told that it can sometimes be purchased without a prescription, though this is illegal. See http://www.anvisa.gov.br/divulga/informes/2009/Resolu%E7%E3o%20RDC%2040_nova.pdf?id=35907&word and http://www.anvisa.gov.br/medicamentos/controlados/conceito.htm. (thanks RM, P) (last updated July 3 2011)
Canada #
Methylphenidate is Schedule III in Canada (see List of Schedule II substances). (Note: Canadian schedules are very different than U.S. schedules) (last updated Oct 27, 2014)
Germany #
Methylphenidate is BTMG Anlage 3 in Germany making it illegal to possess without a BTM prescription. It is sold as Ritalin, Concerta, and Equasym and widely used for children suffering from ADD. (thanks AliceD, PM)
Israel #
Although some media outlets have said that a ruling by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Histadrut (Federation) determined that methylphenidate can be sold without prescription, this is an error and methylphenidate still requires a prescription to purchase and possess in Israel. See http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4025610,00.html. (thanks a) (last updated Apr 27 2011)
Netherlands #
Methylphenidate is controlled and is illegal to possess without a prescription. One visitor reports that its use as a non-prescribed study drug in the Netherlands is increasing as of 2010. (thanks tbh) (last updated Jun 17 2010)
New Zealand #
Methylphenidate is a Schedule 2, Class B controlled substance and is only available by prescription in New Zealand. (thanks sm) (last updated Dec 27, 2011)
Norway #
Methylphenidate is Schedule II in Norway, making it illegal to buy or possess without a prescription and illegal to distribute without a license. Commonly prescribed for ADHD-treatment. The penalty for possessing methylphenidate illegally varies from case to case, but first time offenders are unlikely to receive jail time. See "Narkotikalisten" (English; "The Drug List"), by the Norwegian
government: http://www.lovdata.no/cgi-wift/ldles?doc=/sf/sf/sf-19780630-0008.html#map001. (thanks VA)
United Kingdom (UK, Britain) #
Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is controlled as a Class B drug in the United Kingdom. See Law U.K.. (thanks b) (last updated Apr 17 2011)
If you have information about the legal status of this substance in any other country, please let us know.
CAUTION & DISCLAIMER #
Erowid legal information is a summary of data gathered from site visitors, government documents, websites, and other resources. We are not lawyers and can not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided here. We do our best to keep this information correct and up-to-date, but laws are complex and constantly changing. Laws may also vary from one jurisdiction to another (county, state, country, etc)...this list is not comprehensive.