Home to great football, jazz music, and innovations in space exploration, Alabama is rife with history and culture. But if you’re planning to immerse yourself in this culture (whether as a visitor or resident), you’ll need to brush up on the laws. For kratom lovers, that means understanding the legal landscape as it pertains to Alabama kratom.
Is kratom legal in Alabama? And if not, is there a faint possibility that it could someday be legal again? Let’s break it down.
Is Kratom Legal in Alabama?
It is currently illegal to buy, sell, or possess kratom in the state of Alabama. In 2016, the state legislature passed Senate Bill 226, which added kratom’s two principal alkaloids (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) to Alabama’s list of Schedule I controlled substances. There have been multiple appeals seeking to reverse the legislature’s decision, but kratom remains illegal in the state as of 2023.
Items with a Schedule I classification are the most strictly controlled substances. Other Schedule I substances in the state of Alabama include heroin, LSD, and MDMA.
Many other states have similarly tried to schedule kratom or kratom alkaloids, but most of these efforts have been unsuccessful as the science does not support aligning kratom with narcotics and other illicit drugs.
Proponents of kratom bans often point to federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), both of which have expressed concern about kratom in the past. However, it’s important to note that neither of these federal agencies has gone so far as to ban or restrict kratom. Currently, the federal government is even considering kratom regulations that would protect the rights of kratom consumers at the national level.
Even more notably, the World Health Organization (WHO) has spent years investigating kratom and has rejected the notion of an international kratom ban. The WHO noted that most adverse effects attributed to kratom “involve multiple substances” (i.e. combining kratom with dangerous drugs) and that the research indicates that kratom might actually offer potential health benefits (though more research is needed).
And while the WHO’s report is not a direct endorsement of kratom, it does dispel a lot of the myths and misconceptions that have influenced U.S. legislators—including those in Alabama—to classify kratom alongside dangerous substances. The Alabama kratom ban is the culmination of outdated science and misplaced fear.
What Are the Penalties for Possessing Kratom in Alabama?
Unlawful possession of a Schedule I controlled substance is a Class D felony in Alabama. This type of felony carries a potential jail sentence of 366 days to five years. Repeat offenses can carry even more severe penalties. Violating the Alabama kratom ban can land you in seriously hot water.
It’s also extremely unsafe to buy Alabama kratom, simply from a practical standpoint. Manufacturers and vendors are prohibited from selling kratom in Alabama, so if a particular distributor is willing to circumvent the law and sell their products to Alabama buyers, they’re probably engaging in other questionable business practices as well. Black market kratom is often contaminated, adulterated, produced with synthetic ingredients, or even made with non-kratom ingredients and fraudulently passed off as kratom.
Will the Alabama Kratom Ban Be Lifted?
If you live in the Heart of Dixie and you’re frustrated about the Alabama kratom ban, your best bet is to join the legions of advocates pushing for change. Start by connecting with the American Kratom Association. They have resources available to help you reach out to your state and local legislators and educate them about the benefits of kratom.
When advocating for legal kratom in Alabama, it’s important to highlight the benefits of kratom regulation rather than prohibition. Tell your state representatives that you’d like to see the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) enacted in Alabama. This is a broad set of guidelines concerned with kratom safety, already enacted to great success in states like Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.
The KCPA includes stipulations like minimum age restrictions, maximum alkaloid limits, quality control guidelines, and a ban on dangerous synthetic ingredients. This is how we eliminate dangerous kratom from the marketplace and ensure that people can confidently buy kratom from a reputable vendor.
And though it might seem far-fetched to convince legislators to ditch the Alabama kratom ban in favor of common-sense regulations, this exact strategy has been successful in other states. For instance, Georgia lifted its own kratom ban in favor of safety regulations back in 2019. The same can happen in Alabama.
The Future of Alabama Kratom
We don’t know what the future holds for kratom in Alabama. It’s worth noting that Alabama is actually one of six states with an active kratom ban in effect. The others are Arkansas, Rhode Island, Vermont, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Some states also have bans at the city or county level, as is the case in San Diego California, Sarasota County Florida, and several cities in Mississippi (just to name a few examples).
If the Federal Clarity for Kratom Consumer Protection Act is successful, we may see state-level bans lifted. However, as of this writing, the federal kratom regulation bill is still hanging in limbo. We’ll provide updates if and when they become available.
We do know that, when citizens speak up and educate their legislators, it is possible to see kratom bans lifted at the state level. It happened in Georgia. It happened in Tennessee. It can happen in Alabama.
In the meantime, it’s best to adhere to the laws in your state and avoid any unnecessary legal complications. Groups like the American Kratom Association are actively pushing for sensible, safe kratom laws in Alabama and across the country, and we may soon see positive changes for Alabama kratom legislation. As soon as kratom is legal in Alabama, you’ll hear all about it right here at Kratora!
Want to learn more about kratom quality and value? Start here:
Why Buying Cheap Kratom Can Be Dangerous
I live in Florida. Alabama is a state you go to if you are ok with having less rights than other states. It’s therefore, not surprising that kratom has been banned.
To Alabama, I say good luck trying to get kratom legalized. You’re gonna need it.