With the rising popularity of kratom, many people are uncertain as to whether or not kratom is legal where they live. With some places trying to restrict or even ban kratom sales, there is some confusion on where it is legal to sell or purchase kratom products such as kratom tea, kratom leaves, kratom powder, and kratom capsules.
Before we delve into the legality of kratom, here is a little background information on kratom.
What is kratom?
Kratom is made from the leaves of Mitragyna Speciosa trees, which are native to Southeast Asia. The leaves are sourced from mature trees and are most commonly finely ground into a powder and sold as kratom powder or capsules. It can also be sold as dried leaves, kratom tea, and even kratom extracts.
Kratom provides a wide range of benefits, which is why it has become so popular. However, it has been consumed by Southeast Asian natives for thousands of years. In fact, they would just pick the leaves right off mature Mitragyna Speciosa trees, which can grow from 80-100 feet in height, and simply chew on the leaves to experience the many benefits.
Each kratom product offers different benefits so you might want to research different kratom vendors and products to see which one is right for you. More importantly, you will want to make sure that kratom is legal near you. Some areas have bans on kratom, where others are completely illegal to sell kratom. Now let’s look into where kratom is legal.
Is Kratom legal in Asian Countries?
Kratom is perfectly legal in most kratom countries including Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, Japan, and Israel. In China, there is some confusion as to whether kratom is legal but it is certainly legal in Hong Kong.
In Thailand, Kratom is banned (at least growing kratom) as of now. It is classified as a Category 5 substance, similar to marijuana. Its regulation is currently under review due to the new insights into the benefits of kratom and its medicinal value. Currently, it is still legal for medical use, but it is illegal to grow kratom in Thailand.
Is Kratom legal in European Countries?
Kratom is still illegal in most countries in Europe. However, you should look into the ever-changing laws and local legislation on kratom, including purchase and use in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy. Kratom is illegal in Sweden, Russia, Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, and Finland for both sale and use.
Is Kratom legal in New Zealand and Australia?
Kratom is currently classified as a Schedule 1 substance in New Zealand, meaning that it can be medically secured by a doctor under certain circumstances, but is still illegal to export or import kratom. However, you should be aware that for the most part, it is either totally illegal or at least under tight control. However, in Australia, it is 100% illegal to possess, use, purchase or even grow kratom in any form.
Is Kratom currently legal in Canada?
Currently, in Canada, kratom is totally illegal for “human consumption.” This of course means that it cannot be sold or consumed in any type of food product. However, it is legal to use as a non-consumable form such as incense. These restrictions have not prevented kratom purchase as a non-consumable form to be used for human consumption behind closed doors, even though the law strictly forbids such misrepresentation and consumption.
What About the United States of America? Is Kratom Legal in the US?
As for the U.S, the legality for selling and using kratom varies from state to state, Kratom is 100% legal in many states, heavily controlled in some and there are a few states in which kratom is totally illegal.
Just a few years ago, the DEA, or Drug Enforcement Administration, classified kratom as a “substance of concern.” In fact, in 2016, they went as far as to try and ban Kratom altogether in the US. (See below for more on the kratom ban). They chose to do so as they felt the effects of kratom could be hazardous as they believed there was still a great deal of uncertainty as to some of its effects.
More research has been done on the benefits and effects of kratom since that time. However, one must remember that kratom affects everyone differently and should proceed with caution when introducing any new supplement into their lifestyle.
Kratom is classified as a food product in most states in the U.S. However, there are some states that have placed restrictions and/or guidelines on the sale, distribution, and use of kratom, including online sales.
As of this writing, there are only six states in which kratom is totally illegal to purchase, possess and use. They are as follows: Wisconsin, Vermont, Rhode Island, Indiana, Arkansas, and Alabama.
As for the state of California, Kratom is perfectly legal except for San Diego, where it is currently banned. The same applies to Florida, where kratom is legal statewide except for Sarasota County, where it is again banned. Similarly, in Mississippi, kratom is legal except for the ban on kratom in Union County.
As well, kratom is legal everywhere in Colorado, except Denver. Denver is similar to Canada, in which kratom is strictly banned for “human consumption” but can be sold as a non-consumable product such as incense.
In New Hampshire, kratom is legal for those over 18 years of age. The same applies to Illinois, except for the ban in Jerseyville, IL.
For those states not mentioned, kratom is fully legal in the United States. The state of Tennessee recently made kratom legal for those over the age of 21.
Some info about the kratom ban in the US
As stated above, the DEA tried to place a ban on kratom in 2016, after categorizing it as a Schedule 1 drug (similar to heroin and marijuana). Their stance was that it had the potential to become addictive. However, they revoked the ban shortly after.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration), along with the DEA, NIH (National Institute of Health) and NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse) are currently fighting together to ban kratom in the United States. Their reasoning is it that is a Schedule 1 Drug as it meets the following criteria:
The substances have a high potential for abuse and addiction
The parameters of the substance are deemed unsafe, even under medical supervision.
There is no legitimate use of this substance for medical reasons.
All of the aforementioned government institutions are dead set on a nation-wide kratom ban, despite recent medical studies. Luckily, the American Kratom Association (AKA) is trying to pass the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KPCA) which will create a safety net for the sale and use of kratom in the U.S.
Purchasing Kratom
Now that we have given you the most recent information on “Is Kratom Legal” near me, we want to give you some tips on how to safely purchase quality kratom. Again, it is imperative that you make sure that kratom is legal and not banned to avoid legal issues.
The best place to purchase kratom is from an online vendor. However, due to the recent boom in kratom popularity, kratom websites are a dime a dozen these days. Therefore, you need to make sure that you are only buying kratom from a legitimate and reliable kratom dealer.
Sadly, in this day and age, there are many people who are just out to make a quick buck, which often leads to scam sites. If you don’t do your research, you could end up getting scammed, completely ripped off, or be sold a product that is not 100% pure. It is imperative that you only purchase kratom from a site that is approved by the American Kratom Association to ensure that you are getting 100% naturally sourced, quality, and legal kratom.
Of course, in those areas in which kratom is legal or not banned, you might be able to purchase kratom from a local vendor. Typically kratom is sold at some gas stations, bars, and pubs and at certain specialty stores such as smoke shops or vape stores. Keep in mind that these locations will have a limited selection and supply of kratom products. As well, they may be sold by third parties, who have little to no knowledge about kratom and its benefits. Always make sure the kratom is packaged and ask for information on the manufacturer and distributor as well as proof of authenticity.
SA Kratom has an extensive line of kratom products that are naturally sourced and of the finest quality. Our customer support team is unsurpassed and our products are both high quality and fair trade, as well tested in a third-party lab to be sure that they are free of heavy metals and other containments. Check out our store today for top-of-the-line kratom powder and capsules!
