Last verified:
Status Indicators
- Federally LEGAL. Kratom is not scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act.
- 10 US states BANNED: Alabama, Arkansas, California (de facto via CDPH October 2025), Connecticut (March 25, 2026), Indiana, Kansas (effective July 1, 2026), Louisiana, Tennessee (pending Governor Lee signature), Vermont, Wisconsin
- 16+ US states have KCPA frameworks: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island (effective April 1, 2026), Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, plus several with adjacent regulation (Illinois Kratom Control Act, etc.)
- Remaining states: legal without specific kratom regulation
- Local bans in San Diego CA, Oceanside CA, Sarasota County FL, Albuquerque NM
- DEA has not scheduled kratom federally despite a 2016 attempt that was withdrawn after public comment
At a Glance
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Federal Legal Status | Legal (not scheduled) |
| Age Limit | Varies (18 or 21 in KCPA states, no federal minimum) |
| Federal Regulation | No |
| Controlled Substance (federal) | No |
| Last Policy Change | April 10, 2026 (Kansas ban signed, effective July 1, 2026) |
Federal Legal Framework
Kratom is unscheduled under the federal Controlled Substances Act. The DEA proposed scheduling kratom alkaloids as Schedule I controlled substances in 2016 but withdrew the proposal after public comment. The Food and Drug Administration has issued import alerts, warnings, and seizure actions related to kratom marketed as a dietary supplement, but kratom remains lawful for adult use at the federal level. The Congressional Research Service report (LSB11082) provides an authoritative federal-level overview.
State-Level Variations
BANNED states (Schedule I or equivalent):
- Alabama (May 2016, SB 226)
- Arkansas (February 2016, Schedule I)
- California (de facto ban via CDPH October 2025, plus city bans in San Diego and Oceanside)
- Connecticut (Schedule I effective March 25, 2026, HB 6855)
- Indiana (2014, SB 305)
- Kansas (HB 2365 signed April 10, 2026, effective July 1, 2026)
- Louisiana (Schedule I effective August 1, 2025, SB 154)
- Tennessee (HB 1649 awaiting Governor Lee signature, effective July 1, 2026 if signed)
- Vermont (2016, Department of Health rule, Regulated Drug Rule)
- Wisconsin (2014, Wis. Stat. Section 961.14)
KCPA states (regulated):
- Arizona (HB 2550, 2019, age 18)
- Colorado (SB 22-120 + SB 25-072 Daniel Bregger Act, age 21)
- Florida (HB 179, 2023, age 21)
- Georgia (HB 551, 2019, age 21 since January 1, 2025)
- Kentucky (HB 293, April 4, 2024, age 21)
- Mississippi (HB 1077, 2025, age 21)
- Nebraska (LB 230, May 15, 2025, age 21)
- Nevada (2019 KCPA, age 18)
- Oklahoma (HB 3574, 2024, age 18)
- Oregon (HB 4010, 2022, age 21)
- Rhode Island (KCPA July 2025, effective April 1, 2026, age 21)
- Texas (HB 1097, 2023, age 18)
- Utah (SB 58, 2019, age 18) – first KCPA state
- Virginia (SB 1108, 2023, age 21)
- West Virginia (SB 220, 2023, regulated with 11% tax)
Pending or special status:
- Illinois (Kratom Control Act, age 18. HB 4737 KCPA pending, would raise to 21)
- Maryland (HB 1523, SB 820 restriction proposals; HB 1319 KCPA proposal)
- Idaho (HB 864 ban vs SB 1418 KCPA, both pending)
- Michigan (HB 5537 ban passed both chambers, awaiting Governor signature)
- Ohio (synthetic kratom Schedule I effective May 14, 2026. Natural kratom legal.)
Legal without KCPA:
- Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota (18+ statutory age), Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming
Import & Customs
The FDA has issued import alerts for kratom marketed as a dietary supplement and has authority to detain shipments at US ports. Personal-use quantities may still be subject to seizure depending on packaging and labeling. Customs enforcement is uneven.
Buying & Shipping in the USA
Online vendors generally use checkout-time geo-blocking to prevent shipping to banned states. Buyers in banned states (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Vermont, Wisconsin, Tennessee if signed, Kansas effective July 1, 2026) cannot legally receive kratom via mail. Buyers in KCPA states must comply with state age requirements (18 or 21).
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Q: Is kratom legal in the United States?
A: Federally yes. Kratom is not scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act. State-level legality varies: 10 states ban kratom, 16+ states have KCPA regulatory frameworks, and the remainder are legal without specific kratom law.
Q: Which states have banned kratom?
A: Alabama, Arkansas, California (de facto), Connecticut (March 25, 2026), Indiana, Kansas (effective July 1, 2026), Louisiana, Tennessee (pending Governor signature), Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Q: Which states have a KCPA?
A: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, plus adjacent regulation in Illinois and others.
Q: Has the DEA scheduled kratom?
A: No. The DEA proposed Schedule I scheduling in 2016 but withdrew the proposal after public comment.
Q: What is the federal legal status of kratom in 2026?
A: Federally legal and unscheduled. The FDA has issued warnings and import alerts but kratom remains lawful for adult use at the federal level.
Q: Can I order kratom online in the United States?
A: Yes if you are in a state where it is legal. Vendors typically block shipments to banned states. Buyers must comply with their state’s age requirement if applicable.
Q: Are there local bans I should know about?
A: Yes. San Diego CA, Oceanside CA, Sarasota County FL, and Albuquerque NM all have active local restrictions even though their states broadly allow kratom.
Sources
- www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11082, Congressional Research Service report on federal and state kratom regulation
- amazingbotanicals.net/learn/kratom-legality/, Amazing Botanicals state-by-state kratom legality map (April 2026 update)
- legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kratom-Summary-of-State-Laws.pdf, Legislative Analysis Public Policy Association KRATOM, Summary of State Laws (April 2025)
- stateline.org/2025/08/11/kratom-faces-increasing-scrutiny-from-states-and-the-feds/, Stateline coverage of state and federal kratom regulation in 2025
- www.americankratom.org/aka-in-your-state, American Kratom Association state-by-state advocacy tracker
- www.lumalexlaw.com/2025/10/09/kratoms-legal-future-how-states-and-the-federal-government-are-responding/, Lumalex Law analysis of kratom federal and state regulatory developments
- www.quick.md/quick-tips/kratom-ban-update/, QuickMD 2026 kratom ban update covering all current US bans
- kratomlife.com/is-kratom-legal-in-my-state-2026-laws-regulations-guide/, 2026 state-by-state laws and regulations guide
Related Kratom Legal Guides
- Is Kratom Legal in Brazil?
- Is Kratom Legal in South Africa?
- Is Kratom Legal in Thailand?
- Is Kratom Legal in Mexico?
- Is Kratom Legal in Italy?
- Is Kratom Legal in Ireland?
Regions in USA (Federal Hub)
States, provinces or sub-jurisdictions within USA (Federal Hub).
- Alabama
Kratom is a Schedule I controlled substance in Alabama.
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
Legal to buy, possess, and sell statewide under the KCPA (SB 497). Regulated by the Kratom Consumer Protection Act since 2023. Buyers…
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
