Last reviewed September 2026. Drug laws change often, so check the current rules where you live.
In the United States, phenibut isn’t on the federal list of controlled substances. That doesn’t make it legal to sell as a supplement. The FDA has not approved it as a drug, and since 2019 it has treated supplements containing phenibut as illegal. On top of that, four states now list it as a controlled substance, and a number of countries ban it outright.
Federal law
FDA, April 2019. The FDA sent warning letters to three companies selling phenibut as a dietary supplement. The agency said phenibut doesn’t meet the legal definition of a dietary ingredient under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, so any supplement listing it is misbranded.
Not an approved drug. Phenibut has no FDA approval for any medical use.
Not federally scheduled. As of September 2026, the DEA has not placed phenibut in any schedule of the Controlled Substances Act.
Court action, 2023. On June 2, 2023, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a permanent injunction against a man selling “Chill6” drink powders that contained phenibut.
Continued pressure. In 2021 the Center for Science in the Public Interest found 14 products containing phenibut on the market, including some sold through a national grocery chain, and asked the FDA to take action against the companies involved.
State laws
| State | Status | In effect |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Schedule II controlled substance | 2021 |
| Utah | Schedule I controlled substance | May 7, 2025 |
| Connecticut | Schedule I controlled substance | 2026 (stores had to clear stock by March 25, 2026) |
| South Dakota | Schedule I controlled substance | 2026 (House Bill 1162) |
| Maryland | Not controlled, but sales limited to people 21 and older, with labeling rules and a ban on health claims | October 1, 2025 |
In the states that list phenibut as a controlled substance, possessing or selling it is a crime. In Connecticut, state regulators warned that violations can bring felony charges.
Local rules. In August 2026, the Los Angeles City Council voted to have the city attorney draft rules that would bar sales to anyone under 21, ban sales near schools and require warning labels. Those rules weren’t in effect as of this update.
Other states have looked at similar bills, and more changes are likely. If you’re unsure about your state, your state board of pharmacy or attorney general’s office can tell you the current rules.
Other countries
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| Russia | Prescription medicine (also used medically in some other former Soviet countries) |
| Australia | Prohibited substance (Schedule 9) since 2018 |
| Germany | Banned under the New Psychoactive Substances Act, which covers making, owning, selling and using it |
| France, Italy, Hungary, Lithuania | Controlled |
| United Kingdom | Covered by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, which makes it illegal to supply or import psychoactive substances like phenibut |
World Health Organization. The WHO’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence looked at phenibut in 2021. It didn’t recommend international controls, citing limited data, but it keeps phenibut on its surveillance list.
Can I buy phenibut legally online?
Sellers in the U.S. can’t legally market it as a supplement, and it’s a crime to have it in states that have scheduled it. Many countries also ban importing it. Phenibut.org doesn’t recommend or link to any sellers.
Sources
- FDA, Phenibut in Dietary Supplements
- FDA, FDA Acts on Dietary Supplements Containing DMHA and Phenibut, April 2019
- Code of Alabama, § 20-2-25, Schedule II
- Utah Legislature, H.B. 173 (2025), Controlled Substances Act Amendments
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Guidance for Businesses Regarding Controlled Substance Drug Schedule Updates, 2026
- South Dakota Legislature, House Bill 1162 (2026), enrolled
- Maryland General Assembly, HB 996 (2025), Chapter 704
- Medical Daily, Los Angeles Moves to Regulate Phenibut, August 2026
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, FDA urged to crack down on marketers of illegal drug phenibut, 2021
- WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, Phenibut
- Bonnet U. et al., Phenibut: an illegal food supplement with psychotropic effects and health risks, Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 2024