Kratom is becoming popular across the world. The legal status of kratom is a grey area and is constantly changing.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is pushing to make kratom illegal. Other groups such as the American Kratom Association and the Botanical Education Alliance are campaigning to keep kratom readily available and legal.

International Kratom Legality

Kratom is legal most countries, however it is illegal in the following countries:

• Australia
• Denmark
• Finland
• Israel
• Lithuania
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Poland
• Romania
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Thailand
• United Kingdom

Some countries have not completely banned kratom, but have specific laws regarding its distribution and use. You should check the legality of kratom if you live in Finland, Denmark, Romania, Germany or New Zealand.

Kratom Legal Status in the United States

Kratom laws in the United States vary from state to state.

States which have made kratom an illegal substance are:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Indiana
• Vermont
• Wisconsin

Conversely, the following states have made kratom legal and have no restrictions on its use:

• Washington
• California *
• Nevada
• Idaho
• Montana
• Wyoming
• Colorado *
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Nebraska
• Kansas
• Texas
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Mississippi *
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• South Carolina
• Maine
• Rhode Island
• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Delaware
• Maryland
• D.C.
• Alaska
• Hawaii

* Kratom is banned in San Diego (CA), Union County (MS) and illegal for human consumption in Denver (CO).

All other states are at various stages in the legislation progress. You should check with your local health department for clarification.

So, is Kratom legal where you live? The answer is…it depends!

The laws around kratom use are in a constant state of flux. We are in a period of great change, with many states having pending legislation or studies into the safety of kratom ongoing.

If you’re not sure if kratom is legal in your hometown, or if you have any questions about Kratom, contact your local health department who can advise you further.

Kratom comes in many different varieties. Each strain can have different effects on user. The time it takes for the onset of the effect and the durations of the effects also vary from strain to strain.

Most strains are named after the region they come from, and the color of the veins in the leaf. Some examples include Green Malay, White Thai and Red Indo.

Kratom Vein Colors

Most kratom comes in one of three vein colors:

• red vein kratom
• white vein kratom
• green vein kratom

There is some overlap between the different types of kratom.

Red vein kratom usually has a sedative and calming effect and can help with pain relief. You can expect red vein effects to last for somewhere around 5 hours.

White vein kratom is more stimulating. It causes feelings of euphoria and increased energy. People often use white vein kratom to treat depression. White vein kratom doesn’t last as long as red vein or green vein. Its effects wear off within about 3-5 hours.

Green vein kratom is mood elevating. It can help increase concentration and improve focus. Users report a more mild stiulating effect when taking green vein kratom. Green vein has the longest lasting effects of the three colors. It can last for up to 8 hours.

Kratom Regional Strains

The regional strains of kratom are taken from the region within South East Asia where the plants are grown.

Regional strains include:

• Malay / Malaysian
• Thai
• Indo / Indonesian
• Borneo
• Kali
• Sumatra

Other Kratom Strains

Some kratom strains are named for other reasons, such as the appearence of the leaves or a local word. For example:

• Maeng Da
• Horned Leaf

Kratom is a tree native to South East Asia. It is mostly grown in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

Leaves from the Kratom tree contain a chemical called mitragynine. Mitragynine has an opioid effect.

The crushed leaves can be smoked, brewed as a tea, or taken as capsules.

People have used Kratom as medical treatment for pain relief, depression, anxiety and hypertension. Kratom can also help people through withdrawal from other drugs particularly opiates.

Kratom also has psychoactive properties. It is sometimes used as a recreational drug.

Many retailers offer Kratom for sale in various forms on the internet. No prescription is needed to buy Kratom, and it is currently still a leagal substance.

Neither of the chemical compounds found in kratom (mitragynine and 7-a-hydroxymitragynine) are classified as opiods, but they do interact with the brain’s opioid receptors. This results in various sensations including sedation, pain relief and blissful feelings.

Use of Kratom over a prolonged period may lead to dependance