May 08, 2026

Is Kratom Legal? Federal Status, State Laws & Where It’s Banned in 2024

Kratom's legal status is one of the most frequently asked questions surrounding this popular botanical. The answer is genuinely complicated: kratom exists in a regulatory gray zone at the federal level while being outright banned in some states and tightly regulated in others. This guide fromPureCraft CBDprovides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of kratom's legal status across the United States and internationally.

 

Federal Legal Status of Kratom

At the federal level, kratom is currently legal in the United States. It is not classified as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This means it can be legally purchased, possessed, and used in most parts of the country — with important state-level exceptions noted below.

The FDA has not approved kratom for any medical use and has issued warnings about its potential risks. However, these regulatory actions do not constitute a federal ban on kratom itself. View ourthird-party lab results for full product transparency.

 

The DEA's Involvement

The DEA made headlines in 2016 when it announced its intent to temporarily place kratom's active alkaloids into Schedule I. After over 140,000 public comments opposing the scheduling and a bipartisan group of 51 members of Congress urging reconsideration, the DEA withdrew its scheduling notice. As of now, kratom has not been federally scheduled. See our full breakdown:The Debate Over the Kratom Ban

 

States Where Kratom Is Banned (Fully Illegal)

State

Status

Notes

Alabama

Illegal

Scheduled as a controlled substance (mitragynine and 7-OH-mitragynine)

Arkansas

Illegal

Classified as a Schedule I controlled substance

Indiana

Illegal

Synthetic alkaloids banned; kratom falls under this designation

Rhode Island

Illegal

Scheduled controlled substance

Vermont

Illegal

Regulated as a controlled substance

Wisconsin

Illegal

Synthetic alkaloids scheduled; kratom included

 

States With Local Restrictions

California:Legal statewide — but banned in the city of San Diego
Colorado:Legal statewide — but banned for human consumption in Denver
Mississippi:Legal statewide — but banned in some counties
New Hampshire:Legal — but only for adults 18+, with labeling requirements
Tennessee:Legal for adults 21+ following KCPA legislation
Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma:Legal with KCPA consumer protections enacted

 

States Where Kratom Is Fully Legal

All remaining US states — approximately 44 — have no specific kratom laws. This includes major states such as Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

 

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA)

Rather than pursuing outright bans, a growing number of states have opted to regulate kratom through the KCPA — model legislation developed by the American Kratom Association. KCPA provisions typically include:

Minimum age requirements (18 or 21) for kratom purchase
Mandatory labeling with ingredient disclosure and dosage information
Prohibition on adulterants and contaminants
Limits on synthetic alkaloid concentrations
Penalties for vendors who sell adulterated products

 

International Kratom Legality

Country/Region

Status

Thailand

Re-legalized in 2021 for medicinal use; formerly banned since 1943

Malaysia

Controlled substance — illegal to process/sell (personal use tolerated in some areas)

Indonesia

Major export producer; domestic ban discussed but not enacted

Australia

Classified as a controlled substance; possession illegal without prescription

United Kingdom

Legal to possess; illegal to sell for human consumption

Germany

Legal as of recent regulatory updates

Sweden, Denmark, Finland

Controlled substance — illegal

Canada

Legal to possess; Health Canada restricts sale for human consumption

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Can I order kratom online legally?

Yes — if you live in a state where kratom is legal, purchasing kratom online and having it shipped to your address is legal. Most reputable vendors do not ship to states where kratom is banned.

Is kratom legal to carry on a plane?

Domestically, you can fly with kratom through states where it's legal. TSA does not specifically screen for kratom. However, if your destination state bans kratom, you would be subject to that state's laws upon arrival.

Is kratom a controlled substance?

Not at the federal level. In six states (AL, AR, IN, RI, VT, WI), kratom alkaloids are classified as controlled substances under state law.

 

Conclusion

Kratom is federally legal in the United States but subject to a patchwork of state and local regulations. Six states currently prohibit it outright. The regulatory landscape is changing — toward greater consumer protection and standardization in most jurisdictions. AtPureCraft CBD, we are committed to full regulatory compliance and consumer transparency.

 

Sources & Citations

1.FDA. FDA and Kratom. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA.gov
2.DEA. Drug Scheduling. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.DEA.gov
3.Grundmann O. (2017). Patterns of Kratom Use and Health Impact in the US. Drug and Alcohol Dependence.PubMed
4.Healthline. What You Need to Know About Kratom.Healthline

 

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