Peganum harmala, also known as Syrian rue, esfand, or harmel bush, is a desert plant with several thousand years of history as an incense and ritual plant in the Middle East and Central Asia. The seeds contain alkaloids such as harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine, which makes the plant interesting for botanical and pharmacological research.
Are the seeds classified as narcotics?
At the time of writing, Peganum harmala is not on the Swedish Medical Products Agency's or the Public Health Agency's list of narcotics-classified substances in Sweden, nor is it listed under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. This means the seeds themselves, in their natural, unprocessed form, may be sold and possessed in Sweden.
Classifications can change quickly
In addition to narcotics legislation, Sweden also has the Act on the Prohibition of Certain Hazardous Goods (1999:42), which allows the government to ban new substances on short notice, even before they have been formally classified as narcotics. The Public Health Agency continuously submits proposals for new substances to the government, several times a year. It is therefore wise to always check the current legal status before purchasing, for example via the websites of the Public Health Agency and the Medical Products Agency.
Our position
Växtbutiken sells Peganum harmala seeds in their natural, dried form, without additives. As with the rest of our range, the seeds are not intended as a dietary supplement, medicine, or otherwise for human consumption. We will update this article if the legal situation changes.
This article is general information and does not constitute legal advice. Contact a lawyer or the relevant authority if you are unsure what applies.