Is Kratom Legal in Louisiana in 2024?
kratom-legality
1 Apr, 2024
0
Is Kratom Legal in Louisiana in 2024?
Known as the “Bayou State,” Louisiana is most famous for its lively French Quarter and the annual Mardi Gras carnival. So if you’re heading to Louisiana, you might want to know if Kratom is legal here. In this article, you’ll learn that Kratom is legal in Louisana in 2023. You’ll also discover interesting facts about the controversy surrounding this natural plant.
- What is Kratom?
- Laws and legislation of Kratom in Louisiana
- Where can I buy Kratom in Louisiana?
- Kratom Advocacy in Louisiana
What is Kratom?
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is an evergreen tree native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia and part of the coffee plant family. The farmers in Southeast Asia have become experts in growing and harvesting Kratom, and to this day, the highest quality Kratom available in the world comes from this region. Harvested Kratom has helped farmworkers manage long and arduous work days for centuries.
Kratom leaves contain two alkaloids: mitragynine and 7-α-hydroxymitragynine—these act on the opioid receptors in the brain. Depending on the strain and vein of Kratom and the dosage, Kratom can have stimulant effects, calming effects, or relief from discomfort. Traditionally, people chewed Kratom leaves or brewed them to make tea. Today, Kratom can be taken conveniently in powder, capsules, and extracts.
Laws and legislation of Kratom in Louisiana
The classification of Kratom in Louisiana has been quite the rollercoaster ride. Kratom is legal in Louisiana and without restriction. However, Kratom’s legality has been challenged many times. In 2014, Louisiana House Bill 19 would have classified Kratom as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Fortunately, it did not pass. In 2015, another bill, HB174, attempted to do the same and did pass. However, it was later amended to exclude Kratom alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Then after a Kratom salmonella outbreak in 2018, House Bill 177 passed. That bill urged Louisiana’s Department of Health to study Kratom enough to decide if it did or did not need to be classified. The most recent bill to pass was in 2019, when Kratom was temporarily classified as a controlled substance, but then it was revised to remove it from the classification.
The most recent significant bill, HB523, would have regulated Kratom in Louisiana. However, it did not pass. The Louisiana Senate is currently working to pass a Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which, if passed, would regulate the industry and protect consumers from adulterated Kratom. The American Kratom Association says that the Louisiana Department of Health is aggressively contesting the consumer act because the Food and Drug Administration said it was updating its position on Kratom “very soon.”
Where can I buy Kratom in Louisiana?
Quite a few local stores are selling Kratom in Louisiana. Before buying, check out Google reviews, and see what customers say. The important thing is to research the source of your Kratom. Since 2017, Kingdom Kratom has served thousands of satisfied customers, offering the best selection of powders, capsules, extracts, and edibles. In addition, Kingdom Kratom contracts directly with a select group of Indonesian farmers to ensure the purity of the product. Whether you purchase Kratom locally or buy Kratom online, we’re happy to help answer any questions you may have.
Kratom advocacy in Louisiana
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.
