Kratom is an evergreen tree that is common in Southeast Asia. Its botanical name is Mitragyna speciosa. Many people use it as an herbal supplement. It has opioid and psychoactive properties. You can consume it as capsules, gum or tablets. But, many consumers have a murky understanding of kratom’s legality in the United States. Read on to learn more about it.

Is Kratom Legal in the United States?

The U.S. has a complicated legal system. It has State level and Federal legal system which use different legislations. Many American enforcement agencies make it hard for many people to understand the legality of kratom in the country. Consumers pay penalties and fines when they use kratom in certain states. Yet, American citizens have been using kratom for over twenty years. Some health authorities don’t believe that it is safe for consumption.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recorded several deaths between 2005 and 2015 which resulted from kratom use. It confiscated kratom products that were contaminated. The U.S Army banned soldiers from using the herbal supplement. Alabama, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Indiana banned it. Many people imported kratom in America between 2010 and 2016, according to the International Narcotics Control Board. The Drug Enforcement Authority (DEA) classified it as being unfit for consumption.

Some legislators and consumers protested in many states and asked them to delegalize kratom. The U.S. has several regulations that control the consumption and purchase of kratom. Although the federal level law is general, different states use unique legal systems. The following states have clear kratom regulations:

California: Kratom use is legalized in all counties apart from San Diego

Florida: Kratom is only illegal in Sarasota County

Illinois: Kratom is illegal in Jerseyville and in people who are below 18 years

Alabama: Kratom is a Schedule 1 controlled product

Tennessee and Arkansas: Kratom use is illegal

Indiana: Kratom is an illegal synthetic substance

Wisconsin: Kratom is a Schedule 1 drug

DEA has raised many concerns about the legality of kratom. Some health groups are urging the federal government to make kratom illegal in all states while other people believe that it is an effective treatment for opioid addiction. The Drug Enforcement Agency wanted to list kratom in the Schedule 1 category in 2016. It claimed that the herb has opiate effects that are like those of cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, and heroin. Even so, the DEA proposition didn’t go through.

The Legal Status of Kratom in America

Further research is essential to determine the benefits of kratom. It acts on the brain receptors of consumers thus alleviating mild and chronic pain. The U.S. Army prohibits all soldiers from using kratom. The FDA sent a warning to pharmaceutical firms that sold unapproved kratom products in March 2018. Be vigilant to kratom regulations in your state to avoid paying penalties and fines.

Kratom use, possession, and sale are illegal in:

Arkansas

Alabama

Indiana

Vermont

Tennessee

Wisconsin

Kratom is popular for its anesthetic and sedative effects. Although it is native to Southeast Asia, people from other countries grow kratom. It is advisable to use the right kratom dosage. Some people use it to relieve chronic pain. American states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin prohibit the consumption and sale of kratom.

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