The legal status of kratom in the United States varies from state to state. While there has, in recent years, been some pressure to regulate kratom or to make it completely against the law, there has also been push-back from many people and groups to keep kratom legal. This has left the legal status of kratom open-ended, depending on where you live.
The legal status of kratom in some states is wide open. There are still parts of the U.S. where kratom is easy to safely obtain from any specialty store. In these parts of the country, the legal status of kratom appears to be still under discussion.
The main reason for the uncertain legal status of kratom is a lack of research. As with many natural products, kratom has not gone through the full range of testing that many states demand. Even though kratom has been in use in other parts of the world to positive ends for centuries, the United States relies heavily on specific testing guidelines to render products that they designate as safe.
Thus, the legal status of kratom can be uncertain. This guide is designed to help you through the legal status of kratom. If you currently use kratom, or if you have developed an interest in trying kratom, you may wonder about the legal status of kratom.
What is kratom? Is it legal in the US? What do we need to know about the legal status of kratom? This guide will give you the information you need to understand the legal status of kratom.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a tropical evergreen tree. Scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa, kratom is in the same family as the coffee tree. It is indigenous to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea.
The leaves of the kratom tree are now used in the United States and other western countries. It has become known for its peaceful and soothing properties, and it is also used as a stimulant. It is often ground into a powder. Many people take kratom in the form of tea.
The plant’s dark green leaves are usually dried and either crushed or powdered. You can find fortified kratom powders, usually green or light brown. These powders also contain extracts from other plants.
With small serving sizes, kratom has been reported to work as a stimulant. People who have used small serving sizes generally report having more energy, being more alert, and feeling more sociable. With larger serving sizes, kratom has been reported as being sedative, producing energetic effects, and helping with mood. A larger serving size of between 10 and 25 grams of dried leaves can have a sedative effect, with feelings of calmness and focus. This could potentially last for up to six hours.
Is Kratom Legal In The US?
Kratom is legal and largely unregulated in the United States. That said, there are many exceptions to this. The Drug Enforcement Administration has been working to have a definite report on Kratom.
Since there are individuals and groups, including some healthcare professionals, who believe kratom is safe and beneficial, resistance to controlling kratom has been forceful. Many people have pushed back against the drive to make kratom illegal. As a result, kratom remains legal in much of the US. Still, it is controlled in some states.
Many groups have lobbied to keep kratom legal. As of now, the debate remains open but kratom is legal in many states.
Kratom Legality By States & Cities
States where kratom is illegal to buy, sell, or possess, include:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Kratom is legal in the rest of the country, but there are still exceptions where kratom remains illegal in parts of the states.
Kratom is Illegal in:
- California: Kratom has been banned in San Diego.
- Colorado: Illegal in Denver.
- Florida: Illegal in Sarasota County.
- Illinois: Illegal in Jerseyville. Must be over 18 for the rest of the state of Illinois.
- Mississippi: Illegal in Union County.
- New Hampshire: Must be 18.
- Tennessee: Must be 21.
In These States, Kratom is Legal:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Is Kratom Legal in Other Countries?
The legality of kratom around the world is somewhat uncertain. In many countries, kratom is completely legal, while in other countries the status of kratom is unknown. Still, other countries are debating the legal status of kratom.
Countries Where Kratom is Completely Legal Include:
- Australia
- Denmark
- Finland
- Israel
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Myanmar
- Malaysia
- New Zealand (unless the person has a prescription from a doctor)
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sweden
- Thailand
- Vietnam
In some European countries like Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Italy the legal status of kratom can vary from one city to the next. For this reason, it can be considered not a good idea to buy, sell, or possess kratom in Europe.
African nations are even more uncertain. Kratom is legal in some African countries, but in other countries, it is not known if kratom is legal or not.
Thailand, a country that produces kratom, has made kratom illegal. However, the debate over the legality of kratom has been re-opened in Thailand so the legal status of kratom may change.
There remain many countries around the world where kratom is currently legal, but work is underway to potentially make it illegal. Do due diligence when traveling abroad to fully understand the legal status of kratom before you go.
Arguments For And Against Kratom
The legal status of kratom remains controversial because there are opposing viewpoints as to the benefits of kratom versus the potential dangers.
Some argue that kratom has so many therapeutic possibilities that it should be legal and available to people. Some advocates for legal kratom cite its potential for helping people, that kratom holds the promise with supportive properties and ingredients. These people maintain that the benefits of kratom far outweigh any potential harmful effects.
Still, others insist that since kratom does affect moods and mental states. The facts are that kratom carries few side effects. Most of the dangerous effects of kratom come from higher serving sizes. What is more, much of the preliminary research on kratom shows that it has serious potential for helping people far more than it could harm them.
Thailand, for example, made kratom illegal. After some years of reviewing the data on kratom, the Thai government is considering making it legal simply because the benefits of kratom outweigh the potential negative effects.
The debate comes down to people who argue on behalf of the many benefits of kratom against those who see kratom with no benefits. As the debate continues in the United States, research continues on the potential health benefits and the potential dangers of kratom.
Where To Buy Kratom
Kratom is largely sold in specialty shops around the country and online. Many stores that specialize in herbal supplements and smoke-related supplies will offer various types of kratom. This is, of course, dependent on the laws in your area.
Purkratom is the best supplier of kratom online. Purkratom works solely with one supplier to ensure the quality and consistency of their products. All products received are 3rd Party Lab Tested, reports made public on the site. Rest assured you will receive nothing but clean and quality kratom products.
All shipments are shipped in bubble mailers. Therefore, your shipment is safe throughout its transit.
Kratom Certifications
The American Kratom Association developed AKA Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) Standards Program to enhance the safety of kratom products offered to consumers. When you buy kratom from a certified source as you find with Purkratom, you are buying high-quality products that are free of heavy metals and other dangerous contaminants.
The AKA GMP Standards Program is designed to provide kratom consumers with a list of vendors who have completed the process of meeting the required standards for participation in this program. The initial registration step is for a vendor who enrolls in the AKA GMP Standards Program to have 90 days from enrollment to complete an independent third-party audit verifying the vendor has met the required standards. The standards are rigorous.
Kratom FAQs
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is a tropical evergreen tree. Scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa, kratom is in the same family as the coffee tree. It is indigenous to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea.
Is Kratom Legal In The United States?
Kratom is legal in most states in the United States. There are some states where kratom is completely illegal and some cities and counties in other states where kratom is illegal. Still, other states regulate the age at which it is legal to purchase kratom. Check the lists above to make sure kratom is legal in your part of the country.
Is Kratom Legal in Other Countries?
There are a few countries in Europe where kratom is illegal. Some parts of Europe regulate kratom in different regions of the country. What is more, there are parts of the world where the legal status of kratom is unknown. African countries and China remain uncertain about the legal status of kratom. Again, look over the lists above to make sure.
What Are The Arguments For And Against Kratom?
Advocates of kratom insist that its natural properties provide numerous benefits, that the benefits of kratom have been known in other parts of the world for centuries, and that the potential negative effects of kratom are minimal in comparison to the benefits. Those who wish to make kratom illegal or to severely regulate kratom, maintain that it has the potential to be abused and it has harmful effects. The research on kratom as a health supplement is in the earliest of stages, and the debate over kratom continues in the United States.
Conclusion
As we have become a global community, our access to herbs and foods has increased. We now have access to things that were known only in local parts of the world only a couple of decades ago. Kratom is one such herb that was once only known in some parts of Asia.
Kratom is an evergreen tree that is a relative of the coffee tree. Its leaves have been used in traditional medicine in Asia for centuries. Now that kratom has made its way to the western world, people are beginning to discover the benefits of kratom.
However, the legal status of kratom remains problematic. Some states have made kratom completely illegal while others have begun to regulate the age at which a person can purchase kratom. There are many other states where kratom is completely legal.
If you are interested in kratom, always buy from a reputable source. Many specialty shops around the country sell kratom. You can buy kratom powder online at Purkratom. The products from Purkratom are the highest quality and are completely secure.
