Ketamine Legal States [Updated March 2023]

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a very common prescription medication that is typically used in an inpatient setting. It is one of the most common medications that doctors use as anesthesia; it can be used to keep people unconscious during surgery.

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, which means that it induces a trance or hypnotic-like state. It leads to pain relief, sedation, and amnesia. It typically acts rapidly as the body metabolizes it very quickly. There are some situations where ketamine can be used in very low doses to treat mental health issues, but this is still something that is actively being researched.

Is Ketamine Legal in the United States?

Yes, ketamine is legal in the United States and the vast majority of other developed countries across the world. It is important to understand that just because ketamine is legal does not mean that it can be used recreationally.

In reality, ketamine is very tightly regulated. It can only be administered by very specific clinicians who have the authority and expertise to use it safely. A doctor is only going to use ketamine to keep someone unconscious during a procedure. Ketamine is not meant to be used recreationally, and if it is used recreationally, it can be dangerous. It is also a controlled substance, so using it recreationally would be illegal.

Some doctors have found that ketamine can be beneficial in treating people who have treatment-resistant depression. This means that the patient may have gone through several different types of medications without achieving any significant remission of his or her mental health issues. When ketamine is administered in a very controlled manner, it could help people recover from treatment-resistant depression.

In 2019, the FDA approved a nasal spray version of ketamine for use in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Are There Any States Where Ketamine Is Legal for Recreational Use?

No, there are no states where ketamine is legal for recreational use. In all locations across the United States, ketamine is considered a controlled substance, and it cannot be used for recreational purposes legally.

Ketamine is sometimes used as a club drug when it is taken recreationally. It goes by the names vitamin K, ket, kit kat, and Special K. It is important for people not to take this club drug. There are a number of serious side effects and complications that could develop. Some of the most common symptoms include elevated blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, and an elevated heart rate. Therefore, it can be dangerous if taken recreationally.