Is kratom legal federally in the United States? Considering the varying state and local regulations, and the FDA’s concerns and actions regarding kratom, what is the current federal legal status of kratom (mitragyna speciosa) and its constituent alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in the US? Are there any federal laws specifically regulating or prohibiting its sale, distribution, or possession? And if not a complete ban, are there any federal regulations concerning labeling, purity, or adulteration of kratom products? Specifically, what federal agencies, if any, are actively involved in monitoring or attempting to regulate kratom and what legal mechanisms are they employing (e.g., import alerts, scheduling recommendations, etc.)?

Answer

Kratom is not federally regulated in the United States and is therefore legal at the federal level. However, kratom’s legal status varies significantly from state to state and even at the local level.