According to one study, about 5 million people use kratom every day.
But even though so many people use it, is Kratom legal?
It definitely depends where you live, so make sure you keep reading to find out all you need to know before you start taking Kratom!
What is Kratom?
Kratom is made from leaves that grow in Southeast Asia. It has psychoactive properties when users chew the leaves, ingest capsules, or make tea with them.
Many people in Southeast Asia have used this as a mood booster and a pain reliever since the 1800s.
Today, in the United States, businesses market it as having healing powers. Some people even suggest that it might be a great alternative to opioids. However, many medical professionals also say that there may be health risks associated with using it.
The kratom varies depending on which plant you got it from, which can make it difficult to track and study. It could affect everyone differently, and some people can overdose on it.
To learn more about Kratom, make sure that you check out these facts.
Is Kratom Legal?
Kratom has been very controversial, and some people call for it to be regulated. Some people also call for it to be illegal.
Many people want it banned because it can have dangerous side effects, but there are also some people who experience no side effects.
Some people also think that kratom is part of the problem when it comes to addiction, but there hasn’t been much research done to support that hypothesis.
Around the world, Kratom is illegal in these countries:
- Denmark
- Finland
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Myanmar
- Malaysia
- Poland
- Romania
- Australia
- South Korea
- Sweden
- Thailand
- Vietnam
However, it’s allowed in New Zealand, but it’s heavily regulated.
Legality in the United States
However, the United States is a different story because it varies in different states.
Originally, the DEA proposed that kratom should be a Class 1 drug, which would mean that there would be a ban on it. However, there were many protests, which led them to put that bill on hold.
Now, it’s sort of been up to the states to decide what they want to do with it in their state. So if you want to check if it’s legal for you to use, the best thing to do is check your local state laws.
For example, in 2020, Oregon added even more restrictions to the use of kratom. You have to be over 21.
If you are making or selling the drug or making something that has kratom, you have to include it on the label. This is because Oregon is one of the states that are under the Kratom Consumer Protection Act.
In Utah, kratom is also legal, but there are many regulations. Laws restrict who can sell it, how they can label it, and how they can make it.
They also have restrictions on who can even buy it.
On the other hand, some states have said that they don’t want to have a position on it. In Mississippi, there are a few county governments that have outlawed it, but the state as a whole hasn’t regulated or banned it.
This makes them one of the only other states to take no position. Their neighbors, Alabama and Arkansas, have outright banned it. Georgia has allowed it but with certain regulations.
Why Is it Illegal in Some Places?
The Food and Drug Administration hasn’t actually found evidence that kratom has many therapeutic benefits, which hasn’t helped convince lawmakers that it should be legal.
They do find all kinds of side effects though. Some of those side effects include vomiting, chills, sweating, loss of appetite, and itching. However, serious side effects like delusions, hallucinations, extreme weight loss, constipation, liver damage, and skin darkening have also been noted as well.
In rare cases, some people also have problems breathing, experience seizures, or even go into comas.
If they take this with other medications, they could even overdose.
Lawmakers hope to keep their residents safe by making it illegal, but no one can deny that more research is needed to find out if this drug has any other helpful properties.
Will it Be Legal in the Future?
Despite these side effects, there are many people and groups that are fighting to make this legal.
The biggest group is the Kraton Consumer Protect Act (KCPA). This would help to protect kratom as a legal substance in a certain state, as long as they set requirements for regulation.
Some states have agreed to this to avoid having synthetic kratom, fentanyl, or other dangerous substances in the kratom that are produced.
However, the future of kratom will really depend on the future research that comes out. Some people hope that when more research does come out, it will be allowed and regulated, just like medical marijuana is today.
There’s no way to know for sure. But for now, just keep checking with your local and state laws and make sure you buy from reputable sources
Learn More About Kratom
These are only a few things to know about, “Is Kratom legal?” But there is a lot more research you should do before taking it!
Before taking kratom or any type of drug, make sure that you talk with your doctor first. They’ll be able to advise you on dosages and side effects. If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more articles just like this one!