Is Kratom Legal in Tennessee?

Your complete 2026 guide to kratom laws in Tennessee — including its unique regulatory history.

🚫 Kratom is banned in Tennessee. Governor Lee signed HB1649 (Matthew Davenport’s Law) on April 16, 2026, enacting a full ban on kratom — including natural leaf — which took effect July 1, 2026. Possession is a Class A misdemeanor; sale or distribution is a Class C felony. Both mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are prohibited substances under the new law.

ℹ️ Legal status is rechecked every morning against state legislative filings and regulatory actions. Last checked November 8, 2026. No change recorded since July 1, 2026. Laws can change — always verify with your local authorities.

🏛️ Active Kratom Legislation in Tennessee

Last checked: November 8, 2026 · 11:01 AM UTC

✅ No active kratom legislation tracked in Tennessee this session. We monitor every kratom-related bill filed in all 51 U.S. jurisdictions daily. If a new bill is introduced, it will appear here automatically.

See kratom legislation in all 50 states →

Kratom Legal Status in Tennessee

Kratom is illegal in Tennessee. On April 16, 2026, Governor Lee signed HB1649 into law, officially titled Matthew Davenport’s Law. The law enacts a full ban on kratom, including natural kratom leaf derived from the Mitragyna speciosa plant. The ban took effect on July 1, 2026. Since that date, the sale, possession, and distribution of kratom and its primary alkaloids — mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine — are prohibited throughout the state.

HB1649 amends multiple sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated, including Title 39-17 (criminal offenses), Title 33, Title 38, Title 50, Title 63, and Title 68. Unlike Tennessee’s prior framework — which only scheduled synthetic kratom alkaloids under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-452 — the new law extends the prohibition to all kratom-containing products, whether natural or synthetic in origin.

Penalties

Under Matthew Davenport’s Law, possession of kratom is classified as a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee. Sale or distribution of kratom is classified as a Class C felony. These penalties apply to all forms of kratom, including raw leaf, powder, capsules, and extracts containing mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Legislative Timeline

2025 session — Introduction: HB1649 was introduced in the Tennessee House. Its Senate companion, SB1656, was filed concurrently.
House Judiciary Committee: HB1649 was referred to and passed the House Judiciary Committee.
House passage: HB1649 passed the full House and was transmitted to the Senate.
SB1656 substituted: The Senate substituted the companion House bill (HB1649) for SB1656.
April 16, 2026 — Senate passage: HB1649 passed the Senate by a vote of ayes 23, nays 3.
April 16, 2026 — Signed into law: Governor Lee signed HB1649 (Matthew Davenport’s Law).
July 1, 2026 — Effective date: the ban took effect statewide.

A separate bill, SB2417, which also addressed kratom regulation, was referred to the Senate Delayed Bills Committee on February 2, 2026, and did not advance.

Background: Tennessee’s Prior Kratom Framework

Tennessee had regulated kratom since 2014, when the state classified synthetic mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine as controlled substances under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-452. A 2017 amendment (Public Chapter 425) clarified that naturally occurring kratom derived from the Mitragyna speciosa plant was legal, while only synthetically produced alkaloids remained scheduled. That same amendment established a 21+ age requirement for kratom purchases. HB1649 supersedes this framework entirely by banning all kratom regardless of origin.

💡 Note: Tennessee never adopted the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). The American Kratom Association had advocated for KCPA-style consumer protections in Tennessee, but HB1649 moved in the opposite direction — enacting a full ban rather than a regulatory framework. For a full overview of state-by-state kratom laws, visit the kratom legality hub.

Purchasing Kratom in Tennessee

Kratom is illegal to sell in Tennessee as of July 1, 2026. Amazing Botanicals does not ship to Tennessee. Residents traveling to other states where kratom is legal should verify destination-state law before purchasing. For a state-by-state overview, visit the kratom legality hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Kratom is banned in Tennessee under HB1649 (Matthew Davenport’s Law), signed by Governor Lee on April 16, 2026. The ban took effect on July 1, 2026 and now prohibits the sale, possession, and distribution of kratom statewide.

Governor Lee signed HB1649 on April 16, 2026. The law took effect on July 1, 2026. The Senate passed the bill on April 16, 2026, by a vote of ayes 23, nays 3. The bill was enrolled and signed on April 16, 2026.

Under Matthew Davenport’s Law, possession of kratom is a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee. Sale or distribution of kratom is a Class C felony. These penalties apply to all kratom products containing mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine.

No. Reputable vendors, including Amazing Botanicals, do not ship kratom to states where it is illegal. Ordering kratom to a Tennessee address after July 1, 2026, would violate state law.

As of the May 2026 update, no reversal legislation is pending in the Tennessee legislature. SB2417, a separate kratom-related bill, was referred to the Senate Delayed Bills Committee on February 2, 2026, and did not advance.

All kratom is banned. HB1649 prohibits both mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, and extends the ban to natural kratom leaf — not just synthetic alkaloids. This is a broader prohibition than Tennessee’s prior law, which only scheduled synthetic kratom alkaloids.

Kratom legality varies by state. Residents should check the laws of neighboring states before purchasing. For a complete state-by-state overview, visit the kratom legality hub.

Sources

LegiScan — HB1649 (Tennessee, 2025 Session)
LegiScan — SB1656 (Tennessee, 2025 Session)
LegiScan — SB2417 (Tennessee, 2025 Session)
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-452 — Synthetic Kratom Alkaloid Scheduling (2014, amended 2017)

Is 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) legal in Tennessee?

PROHIBITED

Full ban effective Jul 1, 2026 (HB 1649). Includes natural leaf.

All kratom products, including any 7-OH content, are illegal under state law.

Federal status: 7-OH is not yet federally scheduled, but the DEA filed notices of intent on July 1, 2026 and a temporary Schedule I order is expected on or after August 5, 2026, effective the day it publishes. That will apply in Tennessee regardless of state law.

Compare 7-OH status across all 50 states and DC →

Kratom Is Currently Restricted in Tennessee

Due to state regulations, kratom cannot be shipped to Tennessee. Visit our legality hub for the latest updates on kratom laws.

View Kratom Legality Hub