Is Kratom Legal in Arkansas in 2023?
kratom-legality
16 Dec, 2022
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Is Kratom Legal in Arkansas in 2023?
Ironically nicknamed “the natural state,” Arkansas is one of only six states where Kratom, a 100% natural plant used for years to alleviate pain, is classified as an illegal substance as of 2023. In this article, you’ll learn if Kratom is 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. Established in 2014, the American Kratom Association (AKA) is committed to restoring full consumer access to Kratom. In addition, the AKA works to preserve and protect consumers’ freedom in the United States to make their own choices regarding their health and well-being. AKA is currently working to reverse the bill in Arkansas.
Purchasing Kratom in Arkansas
With Kratom being illegal 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 Arkansas. 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.
The Kratom Consumer Protection Act
Promoted by the AKA, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KPCA) encourages advocacy for the nationwide legalization of Kratom and for more research and education. For more information on how you can do your part to 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 interactive Kratom legality map.
