Is Kratom Legal in My State?
State-by-State Kratom Legality Guide — Updated July 1, 2026
Kratom is legal at the U.S. federal level but regulated state-by-state. As of July 2026, 9 states ban kratom outright (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin) and California has a de facto commercial ban via CDPH administrative action. Kansas and Tennessee bans both took effect July 1, 2026. Michigan's ban bill (HB 5537) passed the House but remains pending in the Senate — kratom is still legal there. Rhode Island reversed its 2017 ban on April 1, 2026 — the first state ever to do so. 15 states have passed the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) instead of banning kratom. City- and county-level restrictions exist in otherwise-legal states, so always verify local laws before purchase, travel, or shipping.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is legal at the federal level in the United States but regulated differently by each state. The DEA attempted an emergency Schedule I scheduling in 2016 and withdrew it after unprecedented public and scientific opposition[1]. Some states have banned kratom, while others have passed the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) to regulate quality and safety standards[2]. Use the guide below to check your state's status.
Which U.S. states have banned kratom?
As of July 2026, kratom is banned in 9 U.S. states, plus California's de facto commercial ban via CDPH administrative action. Possession, sale, and/or distribution of kratom is illegal in these states. State bans have accelerated markedly in 2025–2026: Louisiana (August 2025), California's administrative commercial ban (October 2025), Connecticut (March 2026), and Kansas and Tennessee (both effective July 1, 2026) have all been enacted within the last year, while Rhode Island moved in the opposite direction by reversing its 2017 ban on April 1, 2026[3].
Alabama
Classified kratom alkaloids as Schedule I controlled substances in 2016.
Arkansas
Added mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine to the state's controlled substances list in 2015.
California
De facto ban via administrative action. CDPH declared kratom and 7-OH products illegal to sell or manufacture effective October 24, 2025. Enforcement campaign reported 95% retailer compliance by March 2026 (3,300+ products pulled from shelves).
Connecticut
Classified kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance effective March 25, 2026. HB 6855 signed by Governor.
Indiana
Banned kratom's primary alkaloids as synthetic drugs in 2014.
Kansas
HB 2365 signed by Gov. Laura Kelly on April 10, 2026. Schedules kratom alkaloids under the state's Uniform Controlled Substances Act (K.S.A. 65-4105). Ban in effect as of July 1, 2026.
Louisiana
Banned kratom statewide effective August 1, 2025. Schedule I classification.
Tennessee
HB 1649 ("Matthew Davenport's Law") signed by Gov. Bill Lee on April 16, 2026. Makes knowing possession a Class A misdemeanor and manufacturing/sale a Class C felony. Ban in effect as of July 1, 2026.
Vermont
Added mitragynine and 7-HMG to the state's regulated drug list in 2016.
Wisconsin
Listed mitragynine and 7-HMG as Schedule I controlled substances in 2014.
Which states have kratom restrictions or active ban threats in 2026?
Some states allow kratom but with specific regulations, age limits, or local bans. Others currently face active legislative threats to ban or heavily restrict kratom in 2026. A 2024 analysis of nationally representative U.S. use data found that state policy environment (ban vs. KCPA vs. no law) is associated with measurable differences in consumer use patterns and perceived product safety — meaning state-level action has real downstream effects on how consumers actually buy and use kratom[2].
Illinois
Legal 18+. HB 4737 (Illinois Kratom Consumer Protection Act) is active in 2026 and would repeal the 2014 Kratom Control Act in favor of stronger KCPA-style consumer protections.
Maryland
Legal but HB 1523 / SB 820 restrictive bills plus HB 1319 KCPA are pending in the 2026 session.
Idaho
Legal but a restrictive / ban bill has been introduced in the 2026 session.
Michigan
Legal, but under active threat. HB 5537 passed the House 56–48 on March 18, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Government Operations Committee, where it remains pending. If enacted it would criminalize manufacture, sale, and distribution of kratom (first-offense: up to 90 days jail / $5,000 fine). Not yet law — kratom is currently legal in Michigan.
Ohio
Legal. Ohio's permanent ban on synthetic kratom (7-OH concentrate products) took effect May 19, 2026 — natural kratom remains legal under the state's KCPA (HB 236), but enforcement signals a tightening posture on concentrate products statewide.
Minnesota
Legal with 18+ age restriction.
Rhode Island
Ban reversed April 1, 2026. Governor signed the Rhode Island Kratom Act in July 2025. New framework: retailer licensing, 21+ age requirement, mandatory product testing, bans on synthetic 7-OH. First U.S. state to reverse a prior kratom ban.
What is the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA)?
What Is the KCPA?
The Kratom Consumer Protection Act is model legislation developed by the American Kratom Association (AKA) to regulate the kratom industry at the state level. Rather than banning kratom, the KCPA creates a framework for safe, legal kratom commerce — addressing the real-world quality-control gaps documented in unregulated markets, including heavy-metal contamination and inaccurate alkaloid labeling[4].
Key provisions of the KCPA include:
- Prohibiting the sale of adulterated or contaminated kratom products
- Requiring accurate product labeling (including alkaloid content)
- Setting age restrictions (typically 18+ or 21+)
- Banning the addition of synthetic alkaloids or dangerous substances
- Establishing penalties for vendors who violate standards
States that have passed the KCPA (14 states):
Several additional states have KCPA bills pending or under consideration. The AKA actively advocates for KCPA adoption in all 50 states as an alternative to outright bans. A 2026 Public Health Reports commentary notes that KCPA drafting predates the current wave of ready-to-drink kratom beverages, meaning states without active KCPA enforcement now see these products sold without alkaloid disclosure, age verification, or contaminant testing[5].
What is the complete state-by-state kratom legal status?
Alphabetical listing of all 50 states with current kratom legal status and notes.
Alabama
BANNEDSchedule I since 2016. Possession is illegal.
Alaska
LEGALNo restrictions on kratom.
Arizona
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted. Age 18+ required.
Arkansas
BANNEDControlled substance since 2015.
California
BANNED (DE FACTO)CDPH declared kratom and 7-OH illegal to sell/manufacture Oct 24, 2025. 95% retailer compliance by March 2026.
Colorado
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted. Regulated sales.
Connecticut
BANNEDSchedule I since March 2026. HB 6855.
Delaware
LEGALNo restrictions.
Florida
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted. 21+ required. Sarasota County local ban.
Georgia
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted. Must be 18+.
Hawaii
LEGALNo restrictions.
Idaho
RESTRICTEDLegal but ban bill introduced.
Illinois
RESTRICTEDLegal 18+ but ban bill HB 4930 active.
Indiana
BANNEDBanned since 2014.
Iowa
LEGALNo restrictions.
Kansas
BANNEDHB 2365 signed by Gov. Kelly. Schedule I. In effect July 1, 2026.
Kentucky
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted. 21+ required.
Louisiana
BANNEDBanned since August 2025. Schedule I.
Maine
LEGALNo restrictions.
Maryland
RESTRICTEDLegal but HB 1523/SB 820 pending.
Massachusetts
LEGALNo restrictions.
Michigan
RESTRICTEDLegal. Ban bill HB 5537 passed the House March 2026, pending in the Senate. Not law.
Minnesota
LEGALLegal. 18+ age restriction.
Mississippi
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted. 21+. Some county-level restrictions.
Missouri
LEGALNo restrictions.
Montana
LEGALNo restrictions.
Nebraska
LEGALNo restrictions.
Nevada
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted. Regulated sales.
New Hampshire
LEGALLegal for 18+.
New Jersey
LEGALNo restrictions.
New Mexico
LEGALNo restrictions.
New York
LEGALNo restrictions.
North Carolina
LEGALNo restrictions.
North Dakota
LEGALNo restrictions.
Ohio
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA (HB 236). Natural leaf legal; synthetic 7-OH isolates scheduled May 2026.
Oklahoma
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted.
Oregon
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted.
Pennsylvania
LEGALNo restrictions.
Rhode Island
LEGAL + KCPABan reversed April 1, 2026. KCPA framework: 21+, retailer licensing, product testing.
South Carolina
KCPASouth Carolina Kratom Consumer Protection Act enacted as Act No. 35 (signed May 19, 2025). Legal with age, labeling, and purity requirements.
South Dakota
LEGALNo restrictions.
Tennessee
BANNEDHB 1649 (Matthew Davenport's Law) signed by Gov. Lee April 16, 2026. In effect July 1, 2026.
Texas
LEGAL + KCPAHSC Chapter 444. SB 1868 pending.
Utah
LEGAL + KCPAFirst state to pass KCPA (2019).
Vermont
BANNEDBanned since 2016.
Virginia
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted.
Washington
LEGALNo restrictions.
West Virginia
LEGAL + KCPAKCPA enacted.
Wisconsin
BANNEDSchedule I since 2014.
Wyoming
LEGALNo restrictions.
State-by-State Kratom Legality Guides
Dive deeper into kratom laws for specific states with our detailed guides covering local regulations, purchasing options, and recent legislative changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Kratom is not a federally scheduled substance in the United States. The DEA considered scheduling it in 2016 but withdrew the proposal after public backlash. Legality is determined at the state and local level.
As of July 1, 2026, kratom is banned in 9 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut (March 2026), Indiana, Kansas (July 1, 2026), Louisiana (August 2025), Tennessee (July 1, 2026), Vermont, and Wisconsin. California has a de facto commercial ban via CDPH administrative action (Oct 2025). Kansas (HB 2365) and Tennessee (HB 1649) bans both took effect July 1, 2026. Michigan's ban bill (HB 5537) passed the House but is still pending in the Senate — kratom remains legal there. Rhode Island reversed its 2017 ban on April 1, 2026.
The KCPA is model legislation that regulates kratom rather than banning it. It requires product labeling, prohibits adulterated products, sets age limits, and bans synthetic additives. Fourteen states have enacted it: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island (2026), Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.
You can travel with kratom only where it is legal. Check the laws of your departure state, destination, and any states you'll pass through. For international travel, verify the destination country's laws — kratom is banned in several countries including Australia, Thailand (though recently decriminalized), and many European nations.
Yes, kratom laws can change. Bills to ban or regulate kratom are introduced regularly in various states. Conversely, states with bans may consider overturning them. Stay informed through the American Kratom Association and local legislative tracking.
Two major 2026 bans have now taken effect: Kansas (HB 2365) and Tennessee (HB 1649) both became illegal on July 1, 2026. Michigan (HB 5537) passed the House in March 2026 but remains pending in the Senate and is not yet law. California's CDPH-led commercial ban has achieved 95% retailer compliance. Bills pending in 2026: Idaho, Maryland (HB 1523 / SB 820), and Illinois restrictive proposals. Ohio's permanent ban on synthetic 7-OH isolate products took effect May 19, 2026.
In 2026, Senator Ricketts is leading a group of U.S. senators urging the FDA to take action on kratom scheduling at the federal level. The American Kratom Association is mobilizing opposition through americanadvocacy.org.
References
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Withdrawal of notice of intent to temporarily place mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine into Schedule I. Federal Register. 2016;81(198):70652–70654. DEA Docket No. DEA-442. Federal Register
- Ellis MS, Buttram ME, Forber A, et al. Associations between kratom-related state policy environments and kratom use in a nationally representative population in the United States. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 2024;56(3):333–341. PubMed 37306164
- Swogger MT, Smith KE, Garcia-Romeu A, et al. Current perspectives on the impact of Kratom use. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation. 2022;13:25–31. PubMed 35308216
- Prozialeck WC, Fowler AK, Edwards JR. Public health implications and possible sources of lead (Pb) as a contaminant of poorly regulated kratom products in the United States. Toxics. 2022;10(7):398. PubMed 35878303
- Perry T, Chin S. The unregulated rise of kratom drinks: emerging challenges and policy recommendations. Public Health Reports. 2026. PubMed 41527301
- Henningfield JE, Grundmann O, Huestis MA, et al. Kratom safety and toxicology in the public health context: research needs to better inform regulation. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2024;15:1403140. PubMed 38887550
- Hill K, Gibson S, Grundmann O, et al. Evaluating health information provided to kratom consumers by good manufacturing practice-qualified vendors. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. 2023;18(1):21. PubMed 37041624
- World Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. 44th ECDD critical review report: kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Geneva: WHO; 2021. WHO ECDD 44
Shop Legal Kratom Products
Lab-tested, pure kratom shipped only where permitted by law.
Shop Kratom