There are some things it's probably very good to be queen of. Queen of England springs to mind, and for those who like music, there's Queens of the Stone Age. America doesn't have an official queen, but the title is used for a myriad of lofty positions and achievements. As demonstrated in California, for some dubious ones as well.
On September 3, 2025, Jasveen Sangha, the so-called "Ketamine Queen" of Hollywood, pleaded guilty to five drug charges in a California federal court. This included selling the dose of ketamine that proved fatal for actor Matthew Perry in 2023. Four other charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.
Sangha, who styled herself on social media as a flashy world traveler living a glamorous life, faces much more austere and spartan surroundings for the foreseeable future. Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, with Sangha's counsel indicating the sentencing hearing would allow the opportunity to share the blame and mitigate her responsibility. Four other defendants have also pleaded guilty to being involved in the drug overdose that killed Perry.
The Special K That Doesn't Need Milk
Ketamine came into use as a short-term injectable dissociative anesthetic for both humans and animals in the 1970s. Classified as a Schedule III drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), ketamine retains its medicinal value while also carrying a moderate to high potential for abuse.
Popularized as a "club drug" for teens and young adults, ketamine has grown to become an addiction problem for people of all ages. In addition to its anesthetic properties, the drug can create hallucinations and disassociative sensations. Due to the amnesia it causes while under its influence, ketamine has also gained notoriety as a date-rape drug. The effects are shorter than those of other hallucinogens, usually lasting for an hour or two.
Identified by a host of street names that include Special K, Kit Kat, and Super Acid, ketamine can be used in a variety of forms. It can be snorted, smoked, injected, or infused into lozenges or other edible forms like lollipops. Ketamine is often mixed with other drugs like MDMA, cocaine, or methamphetamines.
As with many drugs used outside of a recommended prescription or intended use, ketamine can be dangerous. It has the potential to cause depression, unconsciousness, or Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD). An overdose of ketamine can cause a dangerously low heart rate, but the other effects can be lethal as well.
Actor Matthew Perry, who had a history of depression and drug addiction issues, was found floating lifeless in his hot tub on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office listed "acute effects of ketamine" as the cause of death, with drowning, coronary artery disease, and the presence of buprenorphine as contributing factors. An investigation found a trail of people and interactions leading to the source of the deadly drug — Jasmine Sangha, the Ketamine Queen.
"Delete All Our Messages" Sure Sounds Like a Confession
Carrying a reputation as a purveyor of high-quality product who only sold to "high-end" people and celebrities, Sangha's sales to Perry involved a chain of assistants and middlemen getting the ketamine from point A to point B. After receiving a free trial vial of ketamine from Sangha, Perry became a steady customer through their intermediaries. As evidenced by the other plea deals, she was not his only supplier.
After hearing of Perry's death, Sangha ordered one of the middlemen to "delete all our messages" and continued her life of traveling and luxury. She was arrested on drug charges in March 2024 after police found three pounds of methamphetamine pills, 79 vials of ketamine, and cocaine in her apartment. Released on bail, she was rearrested in August of that year for playing a role in Perry's death. With her bail revoked, Sangha has remained in custody since then.
In her agreement, Sangha pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
Sangha never met Perry in person, but she'd already admitted she's guilty of providing the lethal dose that eventually made it into his veins. As part of her plea deal, she also admitted to selling vials of ketamine in 2019 to a person who died of an overdose hours later. She'll face up to 65 years in prison at her sentencing, although some of the terms may run concurrently. Regardless, The Ketamine Queen's Instagram account is likely to be barren for quite some time.
Related Resources
- Liability for Drug Overdoses (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- The One With the Tragic Death: What Happens To Matthew Perry's Estate? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- Felony Murder (FindLaw's Criminal Charges)
