The relationship between Mississippi and Kratom has to be the most tumultuous of all the states. The reason for this is the lack of sufficient research and data on the benefits of Kratom mixed with so much misinformation spread by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and government officials. As a result, in 2023, Kratom is both legal and illegal throughout Mississippi.

In October 2022, several lawmakers continued their attempt to ban or regulate Kratom. Rep. Lee Yancey, a Republican who leads the committee with jurisdiction over drug policy, told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that he would advance legislation to ban Kratom, the second year in a row he is attempting the ban. The American Kratom Association is working to counter the misinformation by those seeking to make Kratom illegal throughout the state.

• Laws and legislation of Kratom in Mississippi
• Where can I buy Kratom in Mississippi?
• Kratom Advocacy in Mississippi

Laws and Legislation of Kratom in Mississippi

You would think that with Mississippi being home to the country’s only federally funded Marijuana Research Facility, Kratom laws would be much more liberal. Still, strangely enough, that is not the case. Kratom is legal at the state level in Mississippi. However, it is illegal and banned in 33 counties and towns. Multiple attempts have been made to ban Kratom at a state level, but each has failed. With all that being said, the easiest way to break down the legislation of Kratom in Mississippi is to list the towns and counties where it is banned.

Mississippi Towns where Kratom is NOT Legal:

• Belmont
• Blue Mountain
• Booneville
• Bruce
• Burnsville
• Caledonia
• Calhoun
• Columbus
• Corinth
• Derma
• Fulton
• Guntown
• Iuka
• Mantachie
• Marietta
• New Albany
• Okolona
• Oxford
• Pontotoc
• Ripley
• Saltillo
• Senatobia
• Tishomingo
• Vardaman

Mississippi Counties where Kratom is NOT Legal:

• Alcorn
• Calhoun
• Itawamba
• Lowndes
• Monroe
• Noxubee
• Prentiss
• Tippah
• Tishomingo
• Union

Why are so many towns and counties banning Kratom while the state still supports its use? Reportedly, 12 deaths were linked to Kratom from 2016-2018 when Kratom was found in the blood of the 12 overdose victims. However, no data proved that Kratom was the primary cause of death, and no available data showed what other substances were found in the blood. This, combined with the fact that multiple counties in Mississippi are ranked as the highest opioid-prescribing counties in the United States, led to the bans. While Kratom is not classified at a state level, it is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in each of the towns and cities in which it is banned.

Where can I buy Kratom in Mississippi?

Most Kratom retailers won’t ship anywhere in Mississippi due to the complexity of its Kratom laws. There are just too many locales where it is illegal, so Mississippi is marked as high risk. However, if you want to purchase Kratom in a town where it is legal, it is sold in headshops, gas stations and specialty stores in cities where it is legal.

The AKA and Kratom advocacy in Mississippi

The American Kratom Association (AKA) is a non-profit advocacy group established in 2014, committed to preserving and protecting the freedom of Kratom or Mitragyna Speciosa. Also, it advocates for regulation to ensure Kratom quality and also for research on the benefits of Kratom. The AKA continues to work tirelessly to have Kratom legal in every state. You can help in that effort by joining the AKA as a “protector” of Kratom. You’ll receive notification of any laws changes and advocacy needed. Join the email list here.

Working in concert with the AKA, the Botanical Education Alliance also dedicates itself to educating consumers, lawmakers, law enforcement, and the media about safe and therapeutic natural supplements, including Kratom. Its mission is to increase understanding to influence public policy and protect natural supplements.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act is under consideration in more than 20 states. As of 2023, the KPCA has passed in the following states: Utah, Georgia, Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Hopefully, Louisiana will soon be next!

To see if Kratom is currently legal in your state, please check out this interactive Kratom legality map.