N,N-dimethyltryptamine — Schedule I federally; decriminalized in Colorado; the active compound in ayahuasca.
N,N-dimethyltryptamine — commonly called DMT — is a tryptamine alkaloid found in dozens of plant species and produced in trace amounts by the human body. It is a potent 5-HT2A serotonin receptor agonist, the same mechanism shared by psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline, which is why all four are classified as "classic psychedelics."
DMT is the primary psychoactive compound in ayahuasca — the Amazonian brew that combines a DMT-containing plant (Psychotria viridis or Diplopterys cabrerana) with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) vine (Banisteriopsis caapi). The MAOI is essential: oral DMT is rapidly broken down by gut and liver MAO enzymes unless an inhibitor is present. When inhaled or injected without an MAOI, DMT produces a radically different — and dramatically shorter — experience.
DMT is distinct from 5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), a related but pharmacologically different compound found in the Sonoran Desert toad. 5-MeO-DMT is primarily a 5-HT1A agonist and produces a different subjective experience. Both are Schedule I.
At the federal level: no. N,N-DMT has been classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act since the law was enacted in 1970. Schedule I means the federal government has determined that it has no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Possession or distribution carries felony penalties under 21 U.S.C. § 844 and § 841.
The fact that DMT is produced endogenously in trace amounts by the human body has been raised as a legal defense in several cases. The DEA has formally stated this does not affect scheduling, and no court has accepted the argument as a basis for dismissal.
| State | DMT status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Personal use decriminalized (21+) | Prop 122 (2022) included DMT in natural medicines decriminalization. Possession for personal use is a civil matter, not a crime. DMT healing centers have not been licensed yet — the Advisory Board is expected to address DMT in its 2026 regulatory cycle. |
| Oregon | Schedule I — not included in Measure 109 | Oregon's Measure 109 (2020) only covers psilocybin services. DMT is not included in the licensed program. Measure 110's broad decriminalization was partially rolled back by HB 4002 (2024) and does not specifically protect DMT. |
| California | Schedule I under state law | DMT is Schedule I under California Health & Safety Code §11054. Six cities (Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Arcata, Eureka) have passed deprioritization resolutions for entheogenic plants and fungi — these are not legal protections and do not bind state or federal prosecutors. SB 751 (2025) advancing in Sacramento could change the landscape. |
| Washington | Schedule I | No state-level DMT decriminalization. Cities of Seattle, Port Townsend, and Olympia have deprioritization resolutions for entheogens generally. |
| All other states | Schedule I | No state has legalized or decriminalized standalone DMT (outside of the ayahuasca/religious-exemption context). |
No. DMT is Schedule I under California Health & Safety Code §11054, mirroring its federal classification. Possession, sale, or distribution is a criminal offense under state law. Six California cities — Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Arcata, and Eureka — have passed city council resolutions directing police to make enforcement of entheogenic plant and fungi laws the lowest priority. These resolutions do not make DMT legal; they only affect local police enforcement priorities. State and federal prosecutors are not bound by city resolutions.
California's SB 751 (2025), advancing through the state senate as of early 2026, would create a regulated therapeutic access framework for certain plant medicines. Whether DMT would be explicitly included remains to be seen; the bill's trajectory and final language should be checked for the most current status.
Under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), religious organizations can petition for an exemption to the Controlled Substances Act when sincerely held religious beliefs require the use of a controlled substance. Four organizations currently hold confirmed DEA exemptions to use DMT-containing ayahuasca:
4-AcO-DMT (4-acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, also called O-acetylpsilocin or psilacetin) is a synthetic tryptamine that is metabolized in the body to psilocin — the same active metabolite produced by psilocybin mushrooms. The compound was first synthesized by Albert Hofmann and Franz Troxler in 1963.
Is 4-AcO-DMT on the DEA Schedule I list? As of 2026, 4-AcO-DMT is not explicitly enumerated in the DEA's Schedule I drug list. This has made it a popular "research chemical," sold online with "not for human consumption" disclaimers. However, the legal picture is not simple:
N,N-DMT has a smaller clinical research pipeline than psilocybin or MDMA, but serious work has been done and is continuing:
The first systematic human research on intravenous DMT in the modern era was conducted by psychiatrist Rick Strassman at the University of New Mexico under a DEA Schedule I researcher license and FDA IND. Strassman administered IV DMT to 60 human volunteers across approximately 400 sessions, studying dose-response, subjective effects, and autonomic/neuroendocrine changes.1 This work, summarized in his 2001 book DMT: The Spirit Molecule, laid the pharmacological foundation for subsequent clinical interest.
London-based Small Pharma (formerly partnered with AstraZeneca) developed SPL026, an intravenous extended-release N,N-DMT fumarate formulation combined with a reversible MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) for a controlled-duration experience. Their Phase 2a trial for treatment-resistant depression (NCT05276583) enrolled patients in the UK and completed in 2024.2 AstraZeneca withdrew from the collaboration; Small Pharma announced data from the study in late 2024 and continues to develop the program independently.
Researchers at Imperial College London, Maastricht University, and the University of California have published on DMT pharmacokinetics, subjective effects, and neuroimaging under research exemptions. Active trials can be found by searching "DMT" on ClinicalTrials.gov.
As of 2026, legal access pathways in the US are limited:
DMT's short duration when vaporized does not make it medically safe in uncontrolled settings. The acute intensity of the experience can cause significant psychological distress and disorientation, posing injury risks when people are unsupported. Specific contraindications include:
The integration therapy guide covers what post-session support should look like, especially for intense experiences like DMT.
No. N,N-DMT (dimethyltryptamine) is a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act, where it has been classified since 1970. Possession or distribution carries federal felony penalties. The one significant exception is Colorado, where Prop 122 (2022) decriminalized personal-use possession of DMT for adults 21 and older. In every other state, and under federal law, DMT remains illegal.
No. DMT is Schedule I under California Health & Safety Code §11054. Six California cities — Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Arcata, and Eureka — have passed city resolutions directing local police to treat entheogen enforcement as the lowest priority. These resolutions are not legal protections; they do not bind state police or federal prosecutors, and they do not make DMT possession or distribution legal.
Personal-use possession of DMT is decriminalized in Colorado under the Natural Medicine Health Act (Prop 122, 2022) for adults 21 and older. However, no licensed DMT healing centers exist yet — the state's Natural Medicine Advisory Board is expected to address DMT therapeutic access in 2026. Sale and distribution of DMT remain illegal in Colorado, and federal law (Schedule I) still applies statewide.
4-AcO-DMT (psilacetin) is not explicitly listed on the DEA Schedule I list as of 2026. However, the Federal Analogue Act (21 U.S.C. § 813) treats substances 'substantially similar' in structure or pharmacology to a Schedule I drug as Schedule I if possessed for human consumption. Because 4-AcO-DMT is structurally and pharmacologically similar to psilocybin (Schedule I), federal prosecution under the Analogue Act is legally viable. Several states also have their own analogue acts. The 'not for human consumption' label on research-chemical vendors does not provide legal protection for personal use.
N,N-DMT and 5-MeO-DMT are related but pharmacologically distinct compounds. N,N-DMT is primarily a 5-HT2A serotonin receptor agonist and produces a highly visual, relatively long experience when taken as ayahuasca. 5-MeO-DMT is primarily a 5-HT1A agonist and produces a shorter, less visual, more all-consuming ego-dissolution experience when vaporized. Both are Schedule I in the United States.
Ayahuasca contains DMT as its primary psychoactive compound, combined with an MAOI inhibitor (from Banisteriopsis caapi vine) that prevents the DMT from being broken down in the gut. DMT by itself, taken orally without an MAOI, produces no significant psychoactive effects. The MAOI-DMT combination is what creates the 4-6 hour ayahuasca experience. Four US religious organizations hold DEA exemptions to use ayahuasca: the UDV, Santo Daime, Iowaska Church of Healing, and the Church of Gaia.