Is Kratom Legal in South Carolina? KCPA & 7-OH Limits
Last updated: November 10, 2026 · Reviewed by the Kingdom Kratom team
Quick answer: Yes — natural kratom leaf is legal in South Carolina for adults 21 and older. A 2025 Kratom Consumer Protection Act (S. 221, Act No. 35) set a 21+ age, labeling rules, and a ban on products with more than 2% 7-OH of total alkaloid content. A 2026 House bill that would have gone further passed the House but stalled in the Senate.
Is kratom legal in South Carolina right now?
Yes. South Carolina's Kratom Consumer Protection Act (S. 221, Act No. 35) was signed May 12, 2025 and took effect after a 60-day grace period (around mid-July 2025). Natural leaf kratom is legal for adults, sold under consumer-protection rules.
What the South Carolina KCPA requires
- 21+ purchase age.
- Labeling requirements.
- A 7-OH cap — products may not exceed 2% 7-OH of total alkaloid content, which targets concentrates while leaving natural leaf legal.
In the 2026 session, a House bill that would have pulled products containing harmful substances or lab-created chemicals off shelves passed the House 87-7 but got no Senate vote before the session ended. Senators said they plan to return to the issue with a revised version next year. It is worth watching, but it is not law.
Federal law: where the DEA's 7-OH action stands
Natural kratom is not a federally controlled substance. In 2026 the DEA moved against concentrated and lab-made kratom compounds instead:
- August 26, 2026 — MGPI (mitragynine pseudoindoxyl), MGM-15, and MGM-16 were temporarily placed in Schedule I.
- October 14, 2026 — the DEA withdrew its July proposal and published a revised notice: 7-OH and MGPI become 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.
- As soon as November 13, 2026 — the temporary order can take effect, for two years with a possible one-year extension.
Natural leaf below those levels stays legal federally — and in South Carolina, state law adds a 21+ age limit and its own 7-OH cap. See our kratom legality map and 7-OH explainer.
How South Carolina compares to other states
South Carolina sits with the leaf-legal, 7-OH-capped states like Colorado and Virginia. Compare the full landscape in our state-by-state legality guides.
Where to buy lab-tested kratom in South Carolina
Buy natural leaf products within the 2% 7-OH limit from a vendor with third-party lab results and honest labeling. Explore our powder, capsules, and full shop.
Frequently asked questions
Is kratom legal in South Carolina in 2026?
Yes, natural leaf kratom is legal for adults 21+ under the 2025 KCPA (S. 221).
What is the 7-OH limit in South Carolina?
Products may not exceed 2% 7-OH of total alkaloid content.
How old do you have to be to buy kratom in South Carolina?
21 or older.
Can kratom be shipped to South Carolina?
Yes, compliant natural leaf kratom can be shipped to adults 21+, except in localities with their own bans.
This article is general information about South Carolina law as of November 10, 2026 and is not legal advice. Kratom laws change quickly and can vary by city or county — verify current rules before you buy. Kingdom Kratom makes no health or therapeutic claims about kratom.
