Posted by Millions of people in the U.S. are switching from pharmaceutical drugs to natural botanicals like kratom to manage stress, pain, uplift moods, fatigue, and deal with opioid withdrawal symptoms. The government is aware of this trend and has put in place regulations to control the importation and sale of kratom supplements and other related botanicals like kava.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with several state legislatures to impose stricter oversight of kratom products, from labeling to purity testing, to protect consumers from synthetic alkaloids.
Some states fully support these regulations, while others are adopting Kratom Consumer Protection Acts (KCPA) that prioritize regulation over prohibition. The different changes in the regulation of kratom leaves many wondering, Is kratom legal in the USA?
What is Kratom?
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical tree that belongs to the coffee tree family and is common in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The leaves contain more than 40 alkaloids, but the most active and widely researched are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
The two alkaloids interact with the opioid receptors in the brain to produce different effects. Depending on the kratom strain and dose, this natural supplement can help you relax, focus, increase energy levels, and relieve pain. Traditionally, farm workers would chew the leaves to increase their energy levels as they work.
Today, you can purchase kratom in the form of powder, capsules, tablets, liquid extract, or as a blend of kratom and kava.
States Where Kratom is Banned
At the time of writing, October 2025, several states have decided to ban kratom completely, either by classifying it as a Schedule 1 controlled substance or prohibiting its possession and sale entirely.
Here is a list of U.S states that have completely banned kratom.
- Alabama – Listed as a Schedule I substance since 2016
- Arkansas – Prohibited under state law, classed alongside heroin and LSD
- Indiana – Long-standing ban on kratom and its active alkaloids
- Vermont – Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are controlled substances
- Wisconsin – Kratom is listed under Schedule I controlled substances
- Louisiana – Enforced a new statewide ban effective August 1, 2025
- Rhode Island – Previously banned, but set to transition to a regulated model by April 2026
Notably, Washington D.C prohibits all residents from selling kratom. If you live in any of these states or intend to travel there, note that possession, buying, or traveling with kratom can result in legal penalties.
States Where Kratom is Legal but Regulated
Not every state is following the FDA advisory. Some have decided to adopt a middle-ground approach, that is, kratom is legal but tightly regulated under laws stipulated by the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA).
Here are some states with active or pending implementation of kratom regulations.
- Arizona – Adopted the KCPA early on, setting safety standards for manufacturers.
- Georgia – Raised the minimum purchase age to 21 starting January 2025.
- Utah – One of the first to pass a comprehensive consumer protection law.
- Colorado – Regulated at the state level, but allows local municipalities to ban sales.
- Texas – Legal but regulated; quality and labeling laws apply.
- Florida – Legal statewide except in Sarasota County. However, the state recently banned isolated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) extracts.
- Nevada and Oklahoma – Have pending KCPA-style bills expected to pass in late 2025.
Reputable natural botanical vendors advocate for this balanced approach, as it allows consumers to access kratom safely while providing much-needed state oversight of manufacturing and testing standards.
States Where Kratom Remains Largely Legal
There are many states where kratom remains legal, and there are no regulations governing its use and sale. Here are 20 states where kratom is legal, as of 2025.
- Alaska
- California (except San Diego and Oceanside)
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Washington State
- Wyoming
In these states, kratom supplements are not considered an exception. They are like the typical supplements sold over-the-counter, like minerals, vitamins, and curcumin.
What’s The Future of Kratom?
Firstly, kratom remains unscheduled, meaning it’s not one of the substances listed under the Controlled Substances Act. In 2016, the DEA nearly banned kratom completely but reversed its decision following countrywide public backlash and congressional intervention.
Our take is that, because kratom has not yet received a nod from the FDA, it’s your responsibility to buy from reputable brands like Real Botanicals, which has its own lab that it uses to test for purity and contaminants in every batch.