Wondering where is Kratom legal? To avoid any unpleasant situations in the US and when traveling abroad, we want to enlist all the countries, states, counties and cities where it is illegal to cultivate, hold in possession, or sell Kratom.
Where is Kratom legal in the US
Although the FDA attempted to categorize Kratom as a category 1 substance in 2016 in that way making it illegal in the entire US, more than 60 members of Congress voted to postpone the ban. At the end of the comment period, almost everyone was in favor of Kratom and the FDA’s proposal was rejected.
Since the beginning of 2019, there was no legislation that addressed the Kratom ban on a Federal Level. Still, the situation in the US can be described as somewhat complicated. Under federal law, Kratom is legal. By analyzing it at the state level, we notice that its status differs from one state (or even county) to the other.
- Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin made the cultivation, possession, sale, and use of Kratom illegal.
- Illinois, North Carolina, and New Hampshire have made Kratom illegal for anyone under the age of 18. The exception is Jerseyville, where Kratom is illegal for everyone.
- California allows the use of Kratom in the entire state except in San Diego.
- In Denver, Colorado, Kratom is proclaimed ‘illegal for human consumption’.
- Florida banned the use of Kratom only in Sarasota County.
- Mississippi bans the use of Kratom only in Union County.
- In Tennessee, the Kratom ban was lifted in 2017 and is legal to use for consumers who are 21 and older.
- In New York, as well, you are allowed to use Kratom if you are 21 or older.
In all other areas of the US, Kratom is legal and there are no restrictions regarding its cultivation, possession, and use. Furthermore, users are not required to provide a prescription to purchase it.
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The Status of Kratom in Canada
Kratom remains on the legal side but several governing bodies feel the situation should change and the use, sale, and possession of Kratom in any form should be controlled or even completely banned.
Where is Kratom legal in Central and South America?
No specific laws were discovered listing Kratom as an illegal substance in any of Central Latin American and South American countries. Only in Brazil, Kratom is clearly categorized as a substance legal to grow, sell, use, and hold in possession.
Where is Kratom legal in Europe?
When it comes to Europe, Kratom is legal in the majority of countries but is considered illegal in Denmark, Finland, Italy, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Romania, and Sweden (ongoing negotiations are currently conducted in Sweden which indicates that this ban may be lifted).
When it comes to the United Kingdom, the country prohibits its import and export since 2016. It is interesting to note that the country differentiates simple possession of Kratom from the possession with the intent to supply, where the first one is legal, and the latter one is not.
Kratom is legalized in other European countries.
Where is Kratom legal in Asia?
Southeast Asia, especially, is known for its strict drug laws which, at this point, include Kratom. In terms of specific countries, bear in mind that:
- Kratom is illegal in Brunei, Cambodia, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam. Especially in South Korea, people caught in use, possession, sale, or cultivation of the plant will be subject to harsh penalties.
- Thailand first made Kratom illegal in 1943. However, in 2018, the plant was legalized for medicinal purposes.
- India legalized the plant and the trees from Kratom family are grown in this country. Note that the trees don’t produce the same plant, just one that has similar properties.
- China has not yet defined the status of Kratom, except Hong Kong where it is legalized.
Kratom Status in Australia and New Zealand
In 2005, Kratom was listed as a controlled narcotic in both Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Drug and Poisons Schedule Committee imposed the law which now bans the use, possession, and sale of all Kratom products. However, the plant can be used for research purposes. In New Zealand, Kratom may be obtained with a prescription, but its import and export are illegal.
Where is Kratom legal in Africa?
Generally speaking, the majority of African countries are not as familiar with Kratom as the rest of the world. Those who have heard of the controversies surrounding the plant in the US simply assume that it is illegal.
However, there are no laws restricting the use of Kratom. In fact, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has not disapproved of the use of Kratom and it can be purchased freely from any vendor who sells it locally or internationally. It is also important to note that it is not listed as a controlled substance by the South African Drugs and Trafficking Act of 1992.
Bottom Line
The goal for the future is to invest in further scientific discovery which will fill the gaps in knowledge and provide more proof of Kratom’s advantages which will encourage authorities to consider lifting the bans.
FAQs
What are the benefits of kratom? ›
Benefits of kratom use
Kratom is most commonly used for the self-treatment of chronic and/or acute pain, anxiety, or depression, and also to boost energy and focus. This plant is also used to treat withdrawal symptoms from a prescription drug or illicit drug dependency.
In the UK, since 2016, the sale, import, and export of kratom are prohibited under the Psychoactive Substances Act. In 2017, kratom was designated a Schedule 1 illegal drug (the highest level) in the Republic of Ireland, under the names 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine.
What part of kratom plant is used? ›“Kratom” refers to both Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia, and to products derived from its leaves that are marketed as herbal supplements. Kratom leaves contain many chemical compounds (known as bioactive alkaloids) that can affect the body.
What is the active ingredient in kratom? ›Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the two alkaloids mainly responsible for the effects of kratom, are selective and full agonists of the μ-subtype opioid receptor (MOR). The receptor agonist effect of kratom alkaloids is antagonised by the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone.
What class of drug is kratom in? ›Milham, is to make kratom a Schedule II drug — a classification by the Drug Enforcement Administration that's applied to medications “with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.”
What organs are affected by kratom? ›Sometimes, kratom use may lead to severe breathing issues, liver damage, kidney failure, seizures, coma and death. Between July 2016 and December 2017, it played a role in at least 91 overdose fatalities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Is kratom legal in Canada? ›Kratom is legal in Canada provided that it is not used for human consumption [24, 25], however, many vendors are still selling kratom that appears to be intended for consumption, while stating that the product is for “education and research purposes” or for aromatherapy [26, 27].
When was kratom discovered? ›However, the medicinal use of kratom in southeast Asia has a long history. Kratom was first documented in the scientific literature in 18367, in a paper that described use of kratom leaves by the Malays as a substitute for opium.
What is kratom tea? ›Kratom is the name of a tree from the coffee family native to Southeast Asia. Also known as mitragyna speciosa, it is grown in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Its leaves are dried and used to make tea or encapsulated and sold as a supplement.
What does kratom do to the heart? ›Meanwhile, coroner and autopsy reports indicated that kratom's cardiovascular sequelae encompass coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomegaly, cardiomyopathy, focal band necrosis in the myocardium, and myocarditis.
Is kava the same as kratom? ›
Kratom is another popular Kava bar item and has even greater physical dependence implications. Kratom is a leaf collected from a tree in the coffee family that has significant psychoactive properties.
What receptors does kratom work? ›While kratom is most commonly known for its affinity to opioid receptors, it also has affinity to serotonin and dopamine receptors [13,14], signaling its potential for treating depression, anxiety, and psychosis.
Does kratom raise serotonin? ›Pharmacokinetic interactions of kratom with prescription serotonergic agents metabolized through these isozymes has the potential to increase systemic exposure of serotonin, potentially leading to serotonin syndrome.
Can kratom cause seizures? ›Kratom use has been linked to hepatotoxicity and several neurological complications including posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and seizures, both of which can be life-threatening [6].
What is a Schedule 1 drug? ›Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote. Schedule II.
Does kratom cause diarrhea? ›The commonly reported symptoms reported for kratom withdrawal include nausea, vomiting, myalgias, diarrhea, insomnia, headaches, fever, and tremors.
Does kratom cause memory loss? ›Higher intake of kratom juice (>3 glasses daily) did not appear to impair motor, memory, attention or executive function of regular kratom users.
Does kratom cause brain swelling? ›Glatter says side effects of kratom include seizures, dangerously high blood pressure, damage to liver and kidneys, swelling of the brain, breathing problems, and cardiac arrest. The chances of these problems are even higher when people use kratom with alcohol or with other drugs, he says.
Can kratom cause brain lesions? ›Kratom works as a stimulant but at high doses it has sedative/anti-nociceptive effects. Kratom abuse may be associated with structural brain lesions on MRI.
Is kratom legal in Vancouver Canada? ›Kratom products are not authorized by Health Canada and may pose serious health risks. It is illegal to sell any health products in Canada without authorization from Health Canada.
Does kratom depress breathing? ›
Respiratory depression has not been commonly reported, but kratom does cause a host of adverse effects. While kratom may have a role in patients who are in chronic pain or dependent on opioid painkillers or heroin, this needs to be established in clinical trials.
Does kratom affect your liver? ›Chronic use of kratom recreationally has been associated with rare instances of acute liver injury. The onset of injury is usually within 1 to 8 weeks of starting regular use of kratom powder or tablets, with symptoms of fatigue, nausea, pruritus and dark urine followed by jaundice.
Is kratom tea good for anxiety? ›A 2018 review on kratom use and mental health confirmed these findings, showing that some people found that kratom enhanced their mood and reduced anxiety symptoms. The authors noted that kratom has potential as an opioid substitute for people with opioid use disorder.
Does kratom help skin? ›Many dermatologists also recommend kratom skin products. Alkaloids present in kratom help make you look young and treat aging symptoms like wrinkles and spots. You can use kratom products to moisturize your skin to treat your black spots.
What medications does kratom interact with? ›To date several case studies of drug interactions with Kratom have been reported that relate to its CNS depressant effects. Both additive and synergistic effects are observed if Kratom is used with benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alcohol, opioids, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and other CNS-active drugs [18].
How common is seizures with kratom? ›There has even been a report of kratom use associated with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. However, seizures are common and have been reported after single-substance exposure with an incidence of 6.1%2 to 9.6%4 in the United States. In Thailand, seizures have been seen in as high as 17.5% of cases.
Does kratom effect blood pressure? ›Similarly, analyses of national poison data showed that kratom's most common adverse acute cardiovascular effects include tachycardia and hypertension.
Is kava similar to Xanax? ›“It's kind of like a natural Xanax if you will,” he said. For most people, certain physical effects of kava, like numbness in the mouth, are apparent after a single drink.
Is kava a stimulant or depressant? ›Kava – effects on the body
Kava is a central nervous system depressant. Even though there is no alcohol in kava, it can produce similar symptoms to drunkenness, including difficulty with balance, and slurred speech.
You'll feel calm, relaxed, and maybe even a little sleepy after a time (and enough kava). You may even feel a tingly heat in the cheeks or fingertips as you would with marijuana. All of this, of course, depends on the quality of the kava, the strain, and your own tolerance which, we found, lessens over time.
Where is kratom metabolized? ›
Researchers believe that kratom metabolizes in the liver and is broken down into 7-OH-mitragynine by certain liver enzymes. Experts suspect that 7-OH-mitragynine is the actual substance responsible for many of kratom's known effects.
Does kratom help mood? ›A 2018 review on kratom use and mental health confirmed these findings, showing that some people found that kratom enhanced their mood and reduced anxiety symptoms. The authors noted that kratom has potential as an opioid substitute for people with opioid use disorder.
What are kratom alkaloids? ›...
Mitragynine.
| Legal status | |
|---|---|
| CAS Number | 4098-40-2 |
| PubChem CID | 3034396 |
| ChemSpider | 2298865 |
| UNII | EP479K822J |
Meanwhile, coroner and autopsy reports indicated that kratom's cardiovascular sequelae encompass coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomegaly, cardiomyopathy, focal band necrosis in the myocardium, and myocarditis.
Does kratom interact with medication? ›To date several case studies of drug interactions with Kratom have been reported that relate to its CNS depressant effects. Both additive and synergistic effects are observed if Kratom is used with benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alcohol, opioids, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and other CNS-active drugs [18].
Does kratom help skin? ›Many dermatologists also recommend kratom skin products. Alkaloids present in kratom help make you look young and treat aging symptoms like wrinkles and spots. You can use kratom products to moisturize your skin to treat your black spots.
Is kava the same as kratom? ›Kratom is another popular Kava bar item and has even greater physical dependence implications. Kratom is a leaf collected from a tree in the coffee family that has significant psychoactive properties.
How common is seizures with kratom? ›There has even been a report of kratom use associated with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. However, seizures are common and have been reported after single-substance exposure with an incidence of 6.1%2 to 9.6%4 in the United States. In Thailand, seizures have been seen in as high as 17.5% of cases.
Does kratom affect your liver? ›Chronic use of kratom recreationally has been associated with rare instances of acute liver injury. The onset of injury is usually within 1 to 8 weeks of starting regular use of kratom powder or tablets, with symptoms of fatigue, nausea, pruritus and dark urine followed by jaundice.
Does kratom effect blood pressure? ›Similarly, analyses of national poison data showed that kratom's most common adverse acute cardiovascular effects include tachycardia and hypertension.
Is kratom legal in Canada? ›
Kratom is legal in Canada provided that it is not used for human consumption [24, 25], however, many vendors are still selling kratom that appears to be intended for consumption, while stating that the product is for “education and research purposes” or for aromatherapy [26, 27].
Does kratom cause diarrhea? ›The commonly reported symptoms reported for kratom withdrawal include nausea, vomiting, myalgias, diarrhea, insomnia, headaches, fever, and tremors.
What is a Schedule 1 drug? ›Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote. Schedule II.
What is ketum used for? ›Traditionally, Ketum leaves are used as a medicine for ailments such as back pain, fever, and cough. The water from the ketum leaves have also been used as traditional medicine for diabetes and hypertension. Laborers would ingest this leaf to combat fatigue caused by long working hours and improve work productivity.
What is kratom tea? ›Kratom leaves contain two major psychoactive ingredients (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymytragynine). These leaves are crushed and then smoked, brewed with tea, or placed into gel capsules. Kratom has a long history of use in Southeast Asia, where it is commonly known as thang, kakuam, thom, ketum, and biak.
What is mitragynine found in? ›Clinical Toxicology
Mitragynine is an alkaloid found in the leaves of the South East Asian treeMitragyna speciosa. Kratom leaves are chewed, smoked, or consumed in tea. Leaves from this tree have traditionally been used for both their stimulant properties and as an opium substitute.
“It's kind of like a natural Xanax if you will,” he said. For most people, certain physical effects of kava, like numbness in the mouth, are apparent after a single drink.
Is kava a stimulant or depressant? ›Kava – effects on the body
Kava is a central nervous system depressant. Even though there is no alcohol in kava, it can produce similar symptoms to drunkenness, including difficulty with balance, and slurred speech.
You'll feel calm, relaxed, and maybe even a little sleepy after a time (and enough kava). You may even feel a tingly heat in the cheeks or fingertips as you would with marijuana. All of this, of course, depends on the quality of the kava, the strain, and your own tolerance which, we found, lessens over time.