Is Kratom legal? It depends on where you are.
Kratom is sold in health stores and smoke shops throughout certain areas of the U.S.
Read on to find out more about Kratom. We’ll walk you through what it is exactly, the legality, and availability of it.
What Is Kratom
Kratom has recently started to become popular in the Western World. Kratom’s scientific name is Mitragyna Speciosa and is typically found in Southeast Asia. More specifically: Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Is Kratom Legal
Now that you know exactly what Kratom is, let’s discuss the legality of it. The legality of kratom is a state-specific issue which means each state takes a different stance on the herb.
States Where Kratom Is Legal
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California – except San Diego. They banned Kratom
- Colorado – Outside Denver. Denver made it illegal
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida – Outside Sarasota County
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois – Outside the City of Jerseyville for people 18+
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi – Outside Union County
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire – legal for anyone 18+
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee – Kratom is legal for anyone 21+
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Downsides to Kratom
It is wise to be careful.
We think a lot of the concern surrounding Kratom is because it’s very new in the market, and there isn’t much known about it yet. Nevertheless, it’s always good to be cautious.
It’s important to note, however, that countries like Thailand who are more familiar with kratom, are making strides toward getting it removed from the narcotics list.
There are just as many scientists who praise Kratom as there are who condemn it.
Why Is Kratom No Longer A Narcotic
As we mentioned earlier, Thailand chose to remove Kratom from the National Narcotics List.
When asked why the move had been made, the Justice Minister for Thailand stated that kratom could bring economic benefits to the country.
Where Can I Find Kratom
As you’ve seen above, Kratom is pretty widely available throughout the U.S. It can usually be found in health stores or smoke shops in powdered form. You can also find kratom in local gas stations or mini-marts and you can even find it online.
However, don’t expect to find Kratom in GNC, Walmart, or on Amazon.
These retailers operate nationwide, and Kratom is governed at a state level (for the time being). It would be hard for a GNC or Walmart location to carry it because of these reasons.
If you’re having trouble finding Kratom locally, there are resources available. Kratom Maps is an app to help you find Kratom based on your location. Within the app, you can select a radius around your location, and the app will locate shops with Kratom within that radius.
In addition to Kratom Maps, you can also search Google Maps. Search Google Maps for Kratom just like you would anything else, and results will come back with ratings, contact info, and addresses. From there you can choose your closest shop and head there.
Keep in mind that you need to determine is kratom legal in your state, county, or city. Only states where it’s legal will get results from Google Maps.
Future of Kratom
Right now there are mixed reviews on Kratom.
Agencies like the FDA are cracking down on Kratom. These government groups are claiming that kratom is too dangerous and unstable. While other groups claim the opposite.
What Does It All Mean?
Is this the definitive answer to is kratom legal? That’s for you to decide. We’ve presented the facts to you here, and now the decision is yours.
We’re confident that more information will come available as the Western World gets more familiar with kratom. For now, countries like Thailand removing the substance from their National Narcotics list is a good sign.
Kratom has its birthplace in Southeast Asia. Therefore, it stands to reason that countries from that region have the most first-hand experience with it.
