Ironically, Arkansas is nicknamed “the natural state,” but it is one of only six states where kratom, a 100% natural plant, is classified as an illegal substance as of 2024. In this article, you’ll learn why kratom is not legal in Arkansas.

• Is kratom legal in Arkansas?
• Classification of kratom in Arkansas
• Purchasing and shipping kratom to Arkansas
• The Kratom Consumer Protection Act

Is kratom legal in Arkansas?

In October 2015, Arkansas legislators passed a bill that added kratom and its two main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, to the controlled substance list. That bill, effective as of Feb 1, 2016, made the possession, purchase or selling of kratom completely illegal. As a result, Arkansas joins Alabama, Indiana, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Vermont as one of only six states to impose a statewide kratom ban.

Kratom and its alkaloids are now part of Arkansas’s Schedule 1 controlled substances list. Therefore, the punishment for possessing, buying or selling Kratom in Arkansas is severe.

• Possession of fewer than 2 grams of kratom can result in a Class D felony
• Possession of 2 to 28 grams of kratom can result in a Class C felony
• Possessing over 28 grams of kratom can lead to a class B felony-resulting in up to 20 years of jail time or up to $15,000 in fines
• In addition, possession of any amount of kratom within 1000 feet of facilities such as schools, parks, places of worship, campuses, bus stops, and daycares can result in an additional 10-year prison sentence

Classification of kratom in Arkansas

The official classification of kratom in Arkansas is as a Schedule I controlled substance. Incredibly, this classification puts kratom in the same ranks as heroin, LSD, PCP and cocaine. The American Kratom Association (AKA), established in 2014, works to restore full consumer access to kratom. In addition, the AKA advocates for preserving and protecting consumers’ freedom in the United States so that they can make their own choices regarding their health and well-being. The AKA continues to work to reverse the bill in Arkansas.

Purchasing kratom in Arkansas

In Arkansas, it is illegal to purchase kratom from anywhere while residing in this state. You can’t ship kratom to Arkansas, either. It doesn’t matter if you buy from a state where kratom is legal. It is illegal to have kratom shipped to your Arkansas address. Even though you may be able to kratom to your online shopping cart, if your shipping address is Arkansas, your order will be declined when you try to pay.

Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA)

The American Kratom Association advocates for the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KPCA), which asks for the nationwide legalization of kratom and also for more research and education. For more information on how you can do your part to help make kratom legal, check out this page on the AKA website. To see if kratom is currently legal in your state, please check out this map.