Is Kratom Illegal? Everything You Need to Know about the Legality of Kratom

By now you must have heard of the “mysterious” herb called Kratom; nearly every other person is talking about it. Ever since the benefits of the herb became known to the public, its use has skyrocketed, and with it, the regulatory laws surrounding it as well. Is Kratom Illegal? This article highlights everything you need to know about the speculations regarding Kratom, its legal status across the US and the rest of the world, and what the future holds for this herb.

The US DEA and Kratom

In 2016, the US Drug Enforcement Agency proposed a ban on Kratom, temporarily classifying it as a Schedule I substance i.e. substances defined as drugs that have no accepted use in the medical world and carry a high potential for abuse. So, Kratom was put next to the likes of LSD and heroin. This prompt decision received a huge backlash from the general US public since the ruling appeared to be anything but routine. Public demonstrations were held, petitions signed, and calls were made by Congress to overrule the decision. Eventually, the DEA decided to withdraw the intent to ban the substance and await further comments from the public.

The FDA’s Official Stance on Kratom

The FDA has always been skeptical about Kratom from the very first time its use became common among the general public. The American Kratom Association (AKA) has held press conferences to convince the US governing bodies to reconsider their decision about classifying Kratom as a Schedule I substance, but the FDA could not be waivered.

The FDA spokesperson expressed that Kratom products have always been associated with high risk and, according to present data, certain Kratom compounds have opioid tendencies. As such, the FDA does not intend to approve the use of Kratom any time soon. So, you won’t find any FDA-approved Kratom products on the market.

The US States Where Kratom Illegal

Kratom has been deemed legal on a federal level but remains prohibited in certain states, cities, and counties across the US. Even though the DEA recalled its decision to ban the herb, Kratom is still barred in six US states where its use, sale, possession, and advertisement are all deemed illegal. These include:

  • Alabama: As of May 2016, Alabama lists Kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance.
  • Wisconsin: The state has listed the primary alkaloids of Kratom — Mitragynine and 7-OH-Mitragynine — as Schedule I substances since 2014.
  • Indiana: Since 2014, the state has banned Kratom, defining it as a synthetic drug.
  • Vermont: The state has listed Kratom’s two primary compounds in Controlled Substances since 2016.
  • Rhode Island: As of 2017, two primary ingredients of Kratom have been criminalized.
  • Arkansas: The state added Kratom to the controlled substance list in 2016.

Specific Cities and Counties where Kratom Illegal

If we go further into specific counties and cities within the US states, several have deemed use of kratom illegal within their premises even though the herb is legal in the respective state. The list is as follows:

  • Multiple municipalities within the state of Colorado
  • The city of Franklin in New Hampshire
  • Sarasota city in Florida
  • Jerseyville city in Jersey County, Illinois
  • Several Mississippi counties and cities
  • Lastly, the city of San Diego, California

Is Kratom Legal Outside the US?

Outside of the United States, Kratom laws tend to vary. The following countries have deemed the use of Kratom illegal:

  • Australia
  • Denmark
  • New Zealand
  • Poland
  • Japan
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Finland
  • Israel
  • Myanmar
  • Romania
  • Vietnam
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Sweden

Among these countries, New Zealand allows the use of Kratom if a person has a valid prescription from your doctor for an underlying medical condition. In countries such as Italy, Ireland, and the UK, the regulations on Kratom can vary significantly from one city to the next. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, Kratom isn’t a widely known herb in some countries. In the African continent and China, Kratom’s legal status remains ambiguous. Not long ago, Thailand was among the countries to ban Kratom. However, the Thai authorities decriminalized the possession, sale, and consumption of the herb in August 2021.

Why Are There So Many Speculations Regarding Kratom? Is Kratom Illegal?

To understand why there is so much bad air surrounding Kratom, it’s important to know the facts. Kratom is a term given to the tropical tree that grows on Southeast Asian terrain. It possesses two primary compounds called Mitragynine and 7-OH-Mitragynine. These compounds have psychoactive properties and bind to the very same receptors in the brain as powerful opioids. However, Kratom itself is not an opioid. In fact, many people have claimed that the herb has a lot of potential in ending the opioid epidemic as it’s helped them manage opioid withdrawal symptoms as well as chronic pain.

Despite reports from people all across the globe about Kratom helping them manage their day-to-day activities with ease, the herb is still widely portrayed in a bad light. The FDA has claimed that no evidence has been found that links Kratom to any of the therapeutic benefits as people have claimed. Instead, the administration further highlights the level of threat Kratom poses to the general public because of its addictive properties.

In most cases, the reports of Kratom causing potential side effects have been linked to adulteration and overdose. Purchasing loose Kratom with no brand means that you put yourself at risk because of foreign substances that are often added to produce a “legal high.” Moreover, taking more than the recommended dose over a long period could also worsen your experience. In both these cases, you could end up with nausea, vomiting, sweating, chills, itching, loss of appetite, and more serious problems as well such as seizures and hallucinations.

Conclusion: Is Kratom Illegal?

Is Kratom Illegal? After massive backlash from doctors, patients, and representatives regarding the ban on Kratom, the DEA was left with no choice but to give the public what they want. While some deaths could be attributed to Kratom, most of them involve the use of powerful drugs and alcohol in combination with Kratom. Many states are still pending legislation on the drug while the same can be said with countries outside the US. As research continues, the ambiguity surrounding Kratom is bound to clear out little by little.