Kratom's legal status is one of the most common questions shoppers have, and the honest answer is that it depends on where you live. At the federal level kratom is legal and unscheduled, but a handful of states ban it, some cities restrict it even where the state allows it, and the map changes as new laws take effect. This guide lays out where things stand as of July 5, 2026, with sources. It is general information, not legal advice.
Is kratom legal federally?
Yes. Kratom is not a controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act, and the DEA has not scheduled it.1 That means the federal government does not prohibit it. Legality is decided at the state — and sometimes city or county — level, which is where the complexity comes in.
States where kratom is banned
As of July 5, 2026, kratom is banned or prohibited from sale in the following states, and we do not ship kratom to them:
| State | Status |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Schedule I under the state's controlled-substances law (2016). |
| Arkansas | Listed as a controlled substance (2016). |
| California | Statewide sales prohibition on kratom consumables under the CDPH / Sherman Act (2025). |
| Connecticut | Moved to Schedule I, effective March 25, 2026. |
| Indiana | Treated as a controlled substance under the state's synthetic-drug law. |
| Kansas | Scheduled 7-hydroxymitragynine with no plant-material exemption, a de-facto kratom ban, effective July 1, 2026. |
| Louisiana | Whole-plant kratom placed on Schedule I, effective August 1, 2025. |
| Tennessee | Full ban ("Matthew Davenport's Law"), effective July 1, 2026. |
| Vermont | Listed as a regulated drug (2016). |
| Wisconsin | Its alkaloids are listed as Schedule I (2014). |
In plain terms, that list is: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin.2 A couple of recent shifts are worth knowing about: Rhode Island went the other direction, repealing its ban and moving to a regulated, adults-21+ model.2 And Washington, D.C. does not schedule whole-leaf kratom, so it remains available there.
Cities and counties that restrict kratom
Even in states where kratom is legal, some local governments ban or restrict its sale. These local rules are easy to miss because the state-level answer is "legal." The enforceable city and county restrictions we track — and block at checkout or flag for you — include:
- Colorado: Denver, Monument.
- Florida: Sarasota County.
- Idaho: Idaho Falls, Kellogg.
- Illinois: Jerseyville, Alton, Edwardsville.
- Massachusetts: Belchertown, Lowell, Dracut, Chelmsford, Canton, Marlborough.
- Mississippi: Oxford, Columbus, Corinth, Ridgeland, Brandon, Booneville, New Albany, Amory, Aberdeen, DeSoto County, Lafayette County, Lee County, Lowndes County, Madison County, Rankin County, Union County, Monroe County, Alcorn County, Prentiss County, Tippah County, Tishomingo County, Pontotoc County, Itawamba County.
- New Hampshire: Franklin.
This is why "is kratom legal in my state" is only half the question. Local ordinances can and do differ from state law, and they change, so it is always worth checking your own city or county before ordering.2
The KCPA: how most legal states regulate kratom
Most states that allow kratom regulate it under a Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). These laws vary by state but generally cover three things: accurate labeling, purity and adulteration standards, and a minimum purchase age.2 A growing number of states have passed some version of a KCPA, which is why you will see age gates and detailed labels on compliant kratom products.
How old do you have to be to buy kratom?
Where kratom is legal, the minimum age is typically 18 or 21, depending on the state's KCPA. Our shop is in Oregon, and under Oregon law (ORS 475.398) a retailer may not sell kratom to anyone under 21.3 Because we ship from Oregon, we require every kratom order to be certified 21 or older at checkout, regardless of the destination state's own minimum. It is the conservative, compliant reading, and it is the same standard we hold across the board.
A quick word on "7-OH"
Recent kratom news often mentions "7-OH," short for 7-hydroxymitragynine. This is a minor alkaloid that occurs only in trace amounts in the natural leaf.1 Several recent state actions have specifically targeted concentrated or semi-synthetic 7-OH products — tablets, shots, and gummies that boost it far above natural-leaf levels — rather than leaf material itself. The American Kratom Association has supported that distinction. It is a useful thing to understand when you read a headline about a "kratom ban," because the target is sometimes 7-OH concentrates, not the plant.
Where we ship — the bottom line
We ship kratom to every US state except the banned states listed above, we block the cities and counties with local prohibitions, and we require 21+ certification on every kratom order. Because these laws change, we keep our shipping rules on a single, regularly reviewed list — you can always see the current version on our shipping page. If you have questions about your specific location, that page is the most current reference.
Ready to shop? Browse our kratom collection — third-party lab tested, with certificates of analysis available on request, shipped same-day from Portland, Oregon.
Sources
- Eggleston W, et al. "Kratom." StatPearls, NIH National Library of Medicine (federal status; 7-OH). ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585120
- Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association (LAPPA), "Kratom: Summary of State Laws" (state bans, KCPAs, local ordinances, Rhode Island repeal). legislativeanalysis.org
- Oregon Revised Statutes 475.398 — prohibits sale of kratom to persons under 21. oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_475.398
