There is no doubt that Kratom is getting popular in the West, especially in North America, and even in Europe. Kratom is relatively new in the US, but it has been a part of Southeast Asian culture for centuries. Southeast Asia is the native region of the Kratom tree. However, there is also a legal ambiguity around Kratom, so is Kratom illegal? Especially in the US?
Well, the answer is not simple. Kratom is legal in some states and others have chosen to ban it. So, the answer depends on the state, or in some cases, the town or county you live in.
Do you know there are more than 5 million (and increasing) people in the US who buy Kratom regularly (according to American Kratom Association, also known as AKA)? However, as there is still confusion about Kratom’s legality, thousands of people search on Google every month about it.
This is exactly why we will answer the question in detail in the next few sections.
What is Kratom?
We have already published an article on the topic, what is Kratom, in case you want to learn about the herb in detail. However, if you are new to this fascinating herb, here are some basics.
Kratom is an herb that is sourced from Kratom leaf. It’s packed with alkaloids with Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine being the main two. The tree in which the leaves grow is called Mitragyna speciosa. The same ingredients are also the reason why some states and countries have banned the herb. However, there is still no concrete scientific evidence against these ingredients.
Kratom is also available in different types, commonly called Kratom strains. For example, if you are sourcing Kratom from Indonesia and Malaysia, you will find a difference in properties for both. If you want to buy Kratom in the US, you can find dozens of different strains available in popular stores like Buy Kratom Bulk USA.
This is not it. You also need to learn and decide about the vein color before buying, which represents the strength of the final product. All the strains are primarily available in three vein colors:
In addition, there are two more secondary vein colors:
The most popular Kratom products among enthusiasts are Kratom capsules, Kratom powder, and Kratom extracts.
North America: Is Kratom Illegal?
In most of the states, Kratom is legal to sell. However, here is a quick list of states where you can’t sell Kratom:
- Vermont
- Indiana
- Arkansas
- Alabama
- Rhode Island
- Wisconsin
States Where Kratom is Legal
- Arizona
- Alaska
- Delaware
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Hawaii
- Georgia
- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Louisiana
- Kentucky
- Kansas
- Iowa
- Nevada
- Nebraska
- Montana
- Missouri
- New York
- North Carolina
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Oklahoma
- Ohio
- South Dakota
- South Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Wyoming
- West Virginia
- Washington
- Virginia
- Utah
If you are a resident of these states, you can order or buy Kratom from your nearby smoke shop, or buy online, no matter the county, town, or city you are living in. In almost all of the above states, there is also no age restriction to buy Kratom.
Next, there are a few states where you can buy Kratom but with some precaution. Here is a list of such states.
Which States Have a Ban on Kratom?
Here is a list of all the states in the US that have placed a ban on Kratom or have placed age restrictions. After going through this list, you will get a sound knowledge of the legal status of Kratom in various states of the US.
Alabama
What is the legal status of Kratom in Alabama? At this time, kratom is illegal in Alabama. It has been deemed as a controlled substance and is illegal to sell, process, manufacture, purchase, or distribute it within this state. In 2016, the Senate classified Kratom as a schedule I drug because of the presence of the two alkaloids: Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. According to the bill, both fall under the category of synthetic substances.
Arkansas
In October 2015, the state of Arkansas banned Kratom and included it in the schedule I list. It is widely believed that in Arkansas, the ban on Kratom was placed because of a doctor who observed that Kratom showed the same actions as opioids. There was an uproar from civil society activists and kratom supporters to avoid the ban but the authorities decided otherwise. So, kratom is illegal in Arkansas with no change in sight.
California
Kratom is legal in California except in the jurisdiction of San Diego where a local ordinance is in place that prohibits the selling and purchasing of Kratom. In all the surrounding cities of the state, it is perfectly legal to sell, manufacture, process, purchase, and possess Kratom in any of its forms. You will find many good kratom brands in California that possess all the best kratom strains.
Colorado
In Colorado, again, it is legal to sell and buy Kratom with one exception – Denver. In Denver, it is illegal to sell Kratom for human use. However, some brands still sell Kratom products with labels like “not for human use”.
Florida
It is legal to sell and buy kratom products in Florida except for Sarasota County. Sarasota has placed a local ordinance in 2014 that prohibits the sale and purchase of Kratom in any of its forms. Outside this county, you can buy, sell, and possess Kratom anywhere in Florida.
There is no age limitation associated with Kratom in Florida. However, the kratom brands may decide to sell their kratom capsules and kratom powder to individuals above a certain age.
Illinois
Kratom is legal in the State of Illinois but it can only be sold to individuals who are above 18 years of age. This restriction was placed in 2014 when a bill was passed by the local authorities that banned Kratom for minors (below 18 years). Later in 2017, the city of Jerseyville decided to place a ban on Kratom. About a year later in 2018, the city of Alton also followed suit.
In 2018, one of the state representatives proposed a bill that suggested a statewide ban on Kratom in Illinois. However, the bill could not gather much support and it faded away. As of 2020, Kratom remains perfectly legal in the state of Illinois for those who are above 18. However, recently in March 2020, Edwardsville also passed a ban on Kratom.
So Kratom is legal in Illinois, except in the cities of Jerseyville, Alton, and Edwardsville.
Indiana
There is a comprehensive ban on Kratom in the State of Indiana. This is because, in 2014, the Senate of Indiana included mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in the list of synthetic drugs. A common misunderstanding, even though both of these alkaloids are found naturally in the kratom leaves.
Mississippi
You are free to buy Kratom if you are in Mississippi, except for one county, Union, where it is banned.
New Hampshire
It is legal to buy and sell kratom products in New Hampshire except for individuals below 18 years of age. However, there is one exception to it that is the city of Franklin. The city decided to comprehensively ban Kratom in 2019.
Tennessee
In Tennessee, you can only buy Kratom legally if you are over the age of 21.
Wisconsin
You cannot legally buy or sell kratom in Wisconsin. The Senate of Wisconsin passed a bill in 2014 that prohibited a few synthetic substances. Unfortunately, they included mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in that list even though they are found naturally in the kratom leaves.
Is Kratom Legal in Canada?
Kratom is legal in Canada. This means you will be able to find it in local shops or order it online and have it shipped to your home.
What About the Rest of the World?
Kratom is legal to sell in most parts of the world. In most Asian and African countries, there is simply no information available about Kratom’s legal status. However, there are 18 countries in the world where it is defined as a controlled substance.
Here is the list of countries where you cannot buy Kratom:
Oceania:
- Australia
- New Zealand
Note: In the case of New Zealand, if you have a prescription from the doctor, you can buy Kratom.
Europe:
- Denmark
- Finland
- Lithuania
- Latvia
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Sweden
In some countries in Europe, like Ireland and Italy, Kratom is legal but there are some cities and towns where it is banned.
Asia:
- Israel
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- South Korea
- Singapore
- Vietnam
- Thailand
Interestingly, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand, where it is banned, have kratom trees growing abundantly throughout their countries.
Other than these countries, there is no legal restriction on buying Kratom in other parts of the world outside of North America. So as far as the rest of the world is concerned, we hope that we have answered your question “is kratom legal in the rest of the world?”
Kratom Awareness
With more and more awareness about Kratom, its popularity, and an increasing number of Kratom enthusiasts, there is growing pressure on the US states where Kratom is still illegal. You can find hundreds of support groups and forums, like Reddit Kratom where Kratom buyers run several campaigns to increase awareness about Kratom.
However, the future is still unclear. When there is pressure from Kratom enthusiasts, there are also ongoing efforts by different regulatory agencies in the country to ban Kratom. Both FDA, as well as DEA, want Kratom banned in the country, even with ever-increase support for this botanical herb.
As kratom grows naturally without any artificial intervention, Kratom is still legal in most of the states in the US and other countries. The legal status of Kratom is a key topic of an ongoing debate between Kratom enthusiasts and federal drug regulatory agencies.
Back in 2016, DEA announced that it would list Kratom among Schedule 1 drugs, like heroin and ecstasy, but after much uproar and reaction against the decision, they reverted the decision within a couple of months.
Why Isn’t Kratom Completely Legal?
People searching for “Is Kratom illegal in your state?” should know why Kratom’s legality is such a big issue. There is inadequate research available on Kratom, and this has raised concerns for many large agencies such as the FDA and DEA. Incorrect information about Kratom and inaccurate claims about the two primary alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine has led to rising concerns. This is when bans started occurring. As a result, Kratom became illegal in a few states and counties.
Currently, the American Kratom Association is working to keep kratom legal across the United States. They have the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which will help regulate the industry and make kratom safer for users. Once this act is in place, kratom bans will become a thing of the past.
Where to Buy Kratom?
Now that you know Kratom is legal in most of the states, you must be thinking, about where to buy it from. Well, again, as there is a lot of fuss around the legal issues, it is difficult to find Kratom in the stores near you. However, Kratom is easily available in online stores.
There are hundreds of online stores in North America that can deliver high-quality Kratom strains to your doorstep (provided you live in the state or county where it is legal). Overall, buying Kratom is not much of an issue in the US.
Benefits of Buying Kratom Online
When it comes to buying kratom you have the choice of buying it online or through a local shop. Most people will buy their kratom online because they can get better quality at a fraction of the price. Below we will discuss other reasons why you may want to purchase your kratom online.
Different Forms
There are many different types of kratom products on the market. However, most local shops will only offer powder. You may get lucky enough to find a local vendor who offers capsules, but it is rare.
Online vendors will offer:
- Kratom Powder
- Kratom Extracts
- Kratom Capsules
- Kratom Liquid
All these forms are available for different Kratom strains. Additionally, you’ll find different Kratom colors online, ranging from green to yellow. For those who don’t know, Kratom Powder colors result from harvesting the Kratom leaves at different stages of the plant’s life.
The younger leaves are white while the older ones are used to make red vein Kratom.
Wholesale Purchase
A benefit of buying Kratom online is that you can buy it in bulk. If you want to get a few months’ supplies or you’re placing an order for your Kratom buddies, you can enjoy some discounts while getting free shipping on your order.
Better Quality
Most online vendors will do lab testing on their products, which means that they can prove the quality of their kratom. You will not have to worry about buying authentic kratom when you choose to go with an online vendor who offers lab testing.
Kratom Reviews
When buying from local vendors, you’ll have to check their products at least once to determine the quality. However, it’s different for online sellers. You can go through customer reviews to find out more about the seller.
Additionally, if you want unbiased information about the sellers, read Kratom vendor reviews.
Final Words
We are sure you now have a detailed answer to the question, is Kratom legal? Kratom is primarily a legal herb all over the world, including the US, other than a few exceptions. In most of the states in the US, you can order or buy Kratom without any worry.
