Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Consumption
of its leaves produces both stimulant effects (in low doses) and sedative effects (in high doses), and can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence. 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. In the U.S., the abuse of kratom has increased markedly in recent years.
How is it abused?
Mostly abused by oral ingestion in the form of a tablet, capsule, or extract. Kratom leaves may also be dried or powdered and ingested as a tea, or the kratom leaf may be chewed.
What are the effects?
At low doses, kratom produces stimulant effects with users reporting increased alertness, physical energy, and talkativeness. At high doses, users experience sedative effects. Kratom consumption can lead to addiction.
Several cases of psychosis resulting from use of kratom have been reported, where individuals addicted to kratom exhibited psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusion, and confusion.
What does it do to the body?
Kratom’s effects on the body include nausea, itching, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, increased urination, tachycardia, vomiting, drowsiness, and loss of appetite. Users of kratom have also experienced anorexia, weight loss, insomnia, hepatotoxicity, seizure, and hallucinations.
What is its legal status?
Kratom is not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act; however, there may be some state regulations or prohibitions against the possession and use of kratom. The FDA has not approved Kratom for any medical use. In addition, DEA has listed kratom as a Drug and Chemical of Concern.
- Alabama: Kratom is illegal to buy, possess, use, or sell.
- Alaska: Kratom is legal.
- Arizona: The Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) has passed. Kratom is legal, but requirements such as a minimum age can be set by regulators.
- Arkansas: Kratom is illegal to buy, possess, use, or sell.
- California: Kratom is legal everywhere except in San Diego, where it is banned.
- Colorado: Kratom is legal everywhere with exception of Denver where it is banned for human consumption although it is legal to sell it there. It is illegal to sell kratom in Parker Town and Monument Town.
- Connecticut: Kratom is legal.
- Delaware: Kratom is legal.
- Florida: Kratom is legal except in Sarasota County where it has been banned.
- Georgia: The KCPA has been passed.
- Hawaii: Kratom is legal, but legislation is pending to potentially ban the substance.
- Idaho: Kratom is legal.
- Illinois: Kratom is legal to use and possess for people ages 18 and older except in the city of Jerseyville where it is banned.
- Indiana: Kratom is illegal to buy, possess, use, or sell.
- Iowa: Kratom is legal.
- Kansas: Kratom is legal. There was a bill to criminalize the substance that was removed, and currently, the KCPA is being reviewed.
- Kentucky: Kratom is legal.
- Louisiana: Kratom is legal, but if the DEA places kratom on the controlled substances list, there is a bill in place to criminalize its use and sale.
- Maine: Kratom is legal.
- Maryland: Kratom is legal.
- Massachusetts: Kratom is legal.
- Michigan: Kratom is legal, but legislation is pending to classify kratom as a Schedule II controlled substance.
- Minnesota: Kratom is legal.
- Mississippi: Kratom is legal except in Union County where the substance is banned.
- Missouri: Kratom is legal, but the KCPA is under review, and some counties are considering a ban.
- Montana: Kratom is legal.
- Nebraska: Kratom is legal.
- Nevada: The KCPA has been passed.
- New Hampshire: Kratom is legal for possession and use for people ages 18 and older, except in Franklin where it is banned.
- New Jersey: Kratom is legal.
- New Mexico: Kratom is legal.
- New York: Kratom is legal.
- North Carolina: Kratom is legal to possess and use for people ages 18 and older.
- North Dakota: Kratom is legal.
- Ohio: Kratom is legal, but the state is considering kratom regulation.
- Oklahoma: Kratom is legal, but there is a pending bill to regulate the substance.
- Oregon: Kratom is legal to possess and use for individuals ages 21 and older. Manufacturers or retailers of kratom must disclose the drug as an ingredient when selling kratom products.
- Pennsylvania: Kratom is legal.
- Rhode Island: Kratom is illegal to buy, possess, use, or sell, but there is a pending bill that may reverse the ban and enact regulations instead.
- South Carolina: Kratom is legal.
- South Dakota: Kratom is legal to possess and use for people ages 21 and older.
- Tennessee: Kratom is legal for possession and use for people ages 21 and older. There is a bill pending that would regulate kratom sales by retailers to packets between 5 and 7 ounces.
- Texas: Kratom is legal, but there is a pending bill to regulate the substance.
- Utah: The KCPA has been passed, and retailers are required to test the substance before selling it.
- Vermont: Kratom is illegal to buy, possess, use, or sell, but there is a pending bill to reverse the ban.
- Virginia: Kratom is legal.
- Washington: Kratom is legal.
- West Virginia: Kratom is legal.
- Wisconsin: Kratom is illegal to buy, possess, use, or sell, but the ban may potentially be reversed, and the KCPA passed instead.
- Wyoming: Kratom is legal.
Where Is Kratom Banned?
Several states, counties, and cities have banned kratom completely from being used, sold, or possessed. Kratom is also illegal in several countries, including these:
- Australia
- Finland
- Denmark
- Japan
- Israel
- Malaysia
- Lithuania
- Latvia
- Myanmar
- Russia
- Poland
- Romania
- South Korea
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- South Korea
- New Zealand without a medical prescription
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