KRATOM LEGALITY IN THE USA: COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Trying to find out if kratom is legal in the US? Here’s the short answer: On a federal level, kratom is not banned. It’s legal to buy, possess, and use—unless it’s been banned by the state or town where you live or have traveled to. Find info about your state below.
At the same time, there is no legal or regulatory framework that explicitly applies to kratom. It’s legal simply because it’s not illegal. Unfortunately, this makes it easier to put products on the market labeled as kratom but adulterated with other substances that pose a public health threat.
Moreover, there is also considerable debate about how kratom should be classified and regulated in today’s marketplace. Should it be considered a supplement or a dietary ingredient? And what difference does it make?
IS KRATOM LEGAL IN MY STATE?
This is what a lot of people really want and need to know to buy and use kratom safely. Currently, the following states have BANNED the sale and possession of kratom:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Learn more about the legal and regulatory status of kratom in your individual state.
Notable local kratom bans include Sarasota County in Florida, the city of San Diego, as well as a long list of smaller towns. The good news here is that there’s an easy way to check on the current legal status of every town in the U.S. The Global Kratom Coalition maintains the following kratom legality spreadsheet documenting every locale where kratom is banned in the U.S.
It’s also crucial for kratom users in some locations to understand that just because kratom is banned but doesn’t mean it’s not available for sale. A recent research study conducted through the Stanford University School of Medicine found that kratom was available for sale in San Diego in 46.2% of the head, vape, and smoke stores they visited during the study. Unfortunately, San Diego’s kratom ban makes regulating the safety and purity of kratom products in the city more difficult.
MIT45 STORE CONSUMER SAFETY AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY
It’s tempting to think of kratom’s legal status as a simple yes-or-no question. And in terms of consumers placing an order online or picking up some kratom in a head shop, it very much can be a yes-or-no question.
Yet, like so many industries, the behind-the-scenes regulations are every bit as important for the sustained success of the consumer. And in the long run, the sustainability of the industry itself. That’s why our CEO, Ryan Niddel, has been diligently advocating for better kratom regulations.