Official clinical studies on the kratom tree and human biology is currently limited, but is widely believed to help with many symptoms. Users need to take dosages wisely and accurately to maintain safety and you should always consult with your primary physician before incorporating any supplement into your regimen.
Although mild, the number one side effect of concern is kratom withdrawal. Daily users could potentially experience this if they quit cold turkey. Again, we emphasize the withdrawal experiences are mild and can be compared to that of coffee, or specifically caffeine withdrawal.
Kratom in very high doses can also cause nausea, fatigue and drowsiness. We also DO NOT recommend ever taking kratom or combining kratom with any other drugs.
Kratom can be considered to be in a legal grey area. There are many proponents that want to ban kratom due to personal agendas but have been met with great setback. The kratom community is alive and strong and continues to fight misinformation campaigns to this day. There are two levels to our laws, federal and state. Kratom remains federally legal however certain states have enacted laws to ban, restrict or criminalize the use of kratom.
However, many kratom advocates have fought to legalize kratom for years with much success even if it brings increased regulation. Advocates want regulation, which ensures a safe product and safe levels of use. The current biggest legal movement in this industry is the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), which protects consumers and manufacturers alike and sets specific regulations, for example a minimum age to buy kratom. Currently four states have passed KCPA legislation.
Kratom is illegal to buy, sell, possess or use:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Kratom is legal, but may be regulated:
- Alaska
- Arizona – KCPA passed
- California – Outside San Diego, which banned it, kratom is legal in California
- Colorado – Outside Denver, where it’s considered illegal for human consumption, kratom is legal in Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida – Aside from being banned in Sarasota Country, kratom is legal in Florida
- Georgia – KCPA passed
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois – Outside the city of Jerseyville, kratom is legal in Illinois for those over the age of 18
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi – Outside Union County, which has banned the substance, kratom is legal to use in Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada – KCPA passed
- New Hampshire – Kratom is legal for those over the age of 18
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee – Kratom is legal for those over the age of 21
- Texas
- Utah – KCPA passed
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Is Kratom Legal in Other Countries?
Outside of the United States, kratom laws also vary. In the following countries, kratom is illegal:
- 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 countries like Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, the rules may vary from one city to the next. It’s also important to note that the status of kratom legality isn’t widely known for some countries. For example, it isn’t clear whether it is legal in many African nations and China.
Additionally, Thailand has recently reconsidered the status of some illegal substances, so kratom might not remain illegal. However, as the drug becomes more widely known, countries, counties, and cities that don’t currently ban kratom may choose to do so at any point.
