Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. Kratom has been a staple part of the culture in these locales for hundreds of years, used in natural medicines and as an herbal supplement to promote energy, productivity, and positive vibes.
Kratom has become more popular in the United States over the last decade or so, but the legal status of kratom can be a bit difficult to navigate. If you’re interested in picking up kratom in your area, it’s important to know the rules and regulations–including whether there is a minimum age to buy kratom. Read on for an explanation of the kratom age limit in the U.S., and check out Mitra Bros’ online shop for a range of premium-quality kratom products you can have delivered right to your doorstep.
Kratom Age Limit Varies By Location
Kratom’s legal status in America is complicated because the rules seem to change every day. Cities, states, and the federal government are still figuring out exactly how they view kratom and how they want to regulate the kratom industry. Kratom industry insiders and advocates like the American Kratom Association are hopeful that the government will eventually side with the science and implement common-sense kratom regulation across the country.
For now, the kratom age limit, whether kratom is considered a controlled substance, and even whether kratom is legal to buy or sell at all can vary significantly by state and even by city.
No Federal Kratom Age Limit
At the federal level, there’s very little regulation that applies to kratom. The Food and Drug Administration has not issued any rules specifically applying to kratom. Although there have been attempts to restrict kratom sales by federal agencies in the past, and there are bills pending in Congress to protect access to kratom, kratom is still largely unregulated at the federal level. There is no federal ban on kratom, and there is no minimum federal age to buy kratom. FDA rules limit how kratom can be marketed–kratom has not been approved for any medicinal purposes, for example–but there are no kratom age regulations.
Kratom Age Limit and State Law
Restrictions on the sale of kratom, including the legal age to buy kratom, vary by state.
Currently, a small number of states list kratom as a controlled substance or otherwise prohibit the sale of kratom entirely. At least one of those states, Vermont, has already started the process of delisting kratom from its drug listing and is moving toward legalization. However, for the time being, kratom is illegal in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island.
In the other 44 states, kratom is generally legal. Most of those states have little or no regulation of the kratom industry, much like the federal government. State lawmakers have proposed kratom legislation in states across the country, but only a handful have enacted kratom laws so far.
In states that have passed some kratom regulations, kratom age limits are a common rule. At least 16 states have laws restricting the legal age to buy kratom, several of which also have laws banning the possession of kratom by underage persons. Typically, these states prohibit the sale of kratom to people under 18 or 21 years of age.
In addition to kratom age limits, certain cities or counties may have their own bans on kratom. San Diego, California, Denver, Colorado, and Union County, Mississippi, for example, all have individual kratom bans, even though kratom is legal at the state level. State and local laws are evolving as kratom becomes more popular in the country, so make sure to keep up to date with the rules in your area.
The Kratom Consumer Protection Act
Many of the states with kratom regulation on the books have passed some version of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. The KCPA is a model law proposed by the American Kratom Association, meant to protect access to kratom while ensuring that consumers are safe and well-informed. The KCPA establishes a framework for the production and sale of kratom, including things like product testing requirements, guidelines for packaging and labeling kratom products, prohibitions on selling adulterated or contaminated products, and requirements for product registration.
The KCPA also includes a proposed age limit for kratom purchases. States with a KCPA on the books generally limit kratom sales to people aged 18 or 21.
States Limiting the Age to Buy Kratom
As we’ve mentioned, the legal framework for the kratom industry is in flux. It’s important to check your state and local laws if you plan to buy kratom in person or online. For now, at least 16 states have rules governing the legal age to buy kratom.
According to a congressional report, as of November 2023, it is illegal to sell kratom to anyone under the age of 18 in the following states:
- Arizona
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Utah
It is illegal to sell kratom to anyone under the age of 21 in the following states:
- Colorado
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Additionally, underage possession of kratom is illegal in Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Future legislation at the state or federal level could change these age limits or affect the kratom industry in general. The AKA and other advocacy groups are pushing for more uniform kratom regulation nationwide. Until there’s a federal KCPA in the books, however, it’s up to consumers to keep themselves informed.
Get Your Kratom Safely and Legally from the Mitra Bros
Mitra Bros is committed to providing customers across the United States with premium-quality kratom products in accordance with state and local regulations. We deliver top-shelf kratom right to your doorstep and stay current on the current state of kratom regulation. If you aren’t sure whether we deliver to your location based on the laws in your area, feel free to reach out to us directly with any questions.
Head over to our online store to check out what the Mitra Bros have on offer.
