Is Kratom Legal? 2026 Kratom Legality Map & Laws by State

Last updated: November 10, 2026 · Reviewed weekly by the Kingdom Kratom team

Quick answer: Yes — natural kratom leaf is legal at the federal level and in most U.S. states. As of November 2026 it is banned in ten states plus Washington, D.C. (Massachusetts joined the list in August), North Dakota sales are on hold until its new licensing rules take effect, and a growing group of states keep leaf legal while restricting concentrated 7-OH. Federally, the DEA plans to place concentrated 7-OH in Schedule I as soon as November 13, 2026 — natural leaf products below its thresholds are not covered. Use the color-coded map below to check any state, then open its full guide.

Kratom's legal status changes faster than almost any other botanical, and it varies dramatically from one state to the next. This page is our living map of where kratom stands right now. Hover over a state (or tap it on mobile) to see its current status, then click through for the full breakdown — bills, effective dates, age limits, and how 7-OH is treated.

Hover over a state for its status (on mobile, tap once to preview and again to open its guide). Colors reflect status as of November 10, 2026. If the map doesn't load, use the full state list below.

State color reflects state law; some cities and counties have local restrictions that are applied automatically at checkout.

Kratom legality by state (November 2026)

Prefer a list? Here's every state and D.C., grouped by status, with a direct link to its full guide.

Banned (illegal)

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Legal on paper, but no legal sales right now

North Dakota (new 21+ licensing law signed; sales wait on the attorney general's rules) and California (no ban statute, but the state health department treats selling kratom for consumption as unlawful).

Leaf legal, concentrated 7-OH restricted

Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Legal & regulated (Kratom Consumer Protection Act)

Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky*, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.

*Kentucky's statewide sales ban (HB 757) takes effect January 1, 2027.

Legal (no dedicated statewide regulation)

Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.

Age limits at a glance: a growing list of states sets a 21+ minimum — including Texas, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia — while several others (Arizona, Illinois, New Hampshire, North Carolina) use 18+. Each state's guide has the specifics.

The biggest kratom law changes in 2025–2026

• Louisiana — full ban, effective August 2025.
• Connecticut — full ban by regulation (March 2026).
• Rhode Island — first state ever to reverse a ban; licensed, regulated market opened April 2026.
• Kansas & Tennessee — bans effective July 1, 2026.
• Maryland — 21+ age, 7-OH cap and labeling rules took effect July 1, 2026.
• Utah — only pure leaf kratom may be sold, through registered retailers (May 2026).
• West Virginia — 21+ sales with online age verification (June 2026).
• Minnesota — purchase age raised to 21, effective August 1, 2026.
• Massachusetts — Governor Healey's administration placed kratom in Schedule I by emergency order, effective August 28, 2026. The order covers leaf products too, runs for about a year, and is being challenged in court by retailers.
• North Dakota — an August 2026 executive-order ban was replaced on September 4 by HB 1628, which bans synthetic kratom and allows natural kratom for adults 21+ through licensed, lab-tested retail. Sales stay prohibited until the attorney general's rules are in place.
• Delaware — 21+ purchase age took effect in September 2026.
• Kentucky — HB 757 bans kratom sales statewide starting January 1, 2027.
• Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, South Carolina, Maryland — restricted concentrated 7-OH while keeping natural leaf legal.
• New York — first statewide regulation (21+ and warning labels).
• Local bans keep spreading — recent examples include DeSoto County, Mississippi (November 2026), Wilmington, Illinois (November 2026), and Bellingham, Washington.

Bills to watch

• Pennsylvania — a regulation bill (HB 2657) passed the House in October 2026.
• Michigan — a ban bill (HB 5537) passed the House and sits in the Senate.
• Iowa — the governor has called for a full ban in the 2027 session.
• Oregon — lawmakers are drafting a 2027 bill expected to target 7-OH sales.

Is kratom legal federally? Where the DEA's 7-OH action stands

Yes — natural kratom is legal at the federal level. The plant is not a controlled substance, and it's legal to manufacture, sell, and possess nationwide, subject to FDA authority. What the federal government is going after is concentrated and synthetic 7-OH and related lab-made compounds. Here's the timeline:

• July 2026 — the DEA announced its intent to temporarily place 7-OH in Schedule I. We covered it in what the DEA's 7-OH scheduling really means.
• August 26, 2026 — three lab-made compounds, MGPI (mitragynine pseudoindoxyl), MGM-15, and MGM-16, were temporarily placed in Schedule I. Full breakdown: DEA emergency-schedules MGPI, MGM-15 & MGM-16.
• October 14, 2026 — the DEA withdrew the July proposal and published a revised notice built on HHS's science-based thresholds. 7-OH and MGPI would be Schedule I only above a threshold: more than 1 mg per gram (solids) or 1 mg per mL (liquids), or a mitragynine-to-7-OH ratio below 100 to 1. MGPI's August listing would be replaced with the same threshold-based rule, while MGM-15 and MGM-16 stay in Schedule I.
• As soon as November 13, 2026 — the temporary order can be issued. It takes effect the day it's published in the Federal Register and lasts two years, with a possible one-year extension.

The thresholds are set above the trace levels of 7-OH found naturally in the leaf, which is why federal officials have said the action is aimed at concentrated 7-OH products, not traditional botanical kratom. State laws still apply on top of federal rules, so a product that's federally legal can still be banned where you live.

Frequently asked questions

Is kratom legal in the United States?

Yes, at the federal level and in most states. As of November 2026 it is banned in ten states plus Washington D.C., North Dakota sales are paused until its licensing rules take effect, and several states keep leaf legal while restricting concentrated 7-OH.

What states is kratom illegal in?

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C. Kratom can't currently be sold in North Dakota or California either, and Kentucky's sales ban begins January 1, 2027. Always check your state's current status — this list changes.

Is the DEA banning kratom?

No. The DEA's pending order targets concentrated 7-OH and MGPI above set thresholds (more than 1 mg per gram or mL, or a mitragynine-to-7-OH ratio under 100 to 1). Natural kratom leaf below those levels is not part of the federal action.

Is 7-OH legal?

Concentrated and synthetic 7-OH products are already restricted in a growing number of states, and the DEA plans to place 7-OH above its thresholds in Schedule I as soon as November 13, 2026. Natural kratom leaf, which contains only trace 7-OH, remains legal federally.

Is kratom legal in Massachusetts?

Not right now. A state emergency order made kratom a Schedule I substance in Massachusetts on August 28, 2026. The order is temporary (about one year) and is being challenged in court.

How often is this map updated?

We review it weekly, but kratom laws can change between updates. Treat it as a starting point and confirm your state's current status before you buy.

Disclaimer: This map and guide are for general informational purposes only, are not legal advice, and we do not guarantee they are fully up to date. Kratom laws change frequently and can vary by locality. Before relying on this information, verify your state's current status with primary sources and the American Kratom Association. Kingdom Kratom makes no health or therapeutic claims about kratom.