Is Kratom Legal in Kentucky?

The Bluegrass State is the home of Kentucky Fried Chicken and its secret blend of herbs and spices. Another herb from a Southeast Asian plant, identified as Mitragyna speciosa, has existed for centuries as a herbal treatment. But is kratom legal in Kentucky?

Kratom legality in Kentucky: What you need to know

Is kratom legal in Kentucky in 2022? Yes. Anyone can purchase, possess, and use it in the Bluegrass State. However, there have been many attempts to change the legal status of this Southeast Asian herb.

In 2016, the state proposed KY SB136, which sought to categorize kratom as a Schedule I substance. Thankfully, this bill ended with the committee. If passed, it would've banned the substance and classified it as a synthetic opioid.

Kratom is legal now, but that's only because all the previously proposed bills to prevent its use were unsuccessful. In 2017, an anti-kratom lobby put HR 2851 forward, seeking to ban it. Advocates fought against it, and the state didn't pass the amendment.

Thus far, all attempts to ban it have been met with serious defense from the plant’s enthusiasts. Kratom is still legal in Kentucky; however, some aspects may change once the state implements regulations.

 

 

Kentucky kratom legislation

Kratom's legal status in the Bluegrass State is the same as at the federal level: unregulated. There's currently no legislation in place to monitor the industry. Kratom is legal in Kentucky in 2023, and anyone can buy and use it.

Under Kentucky's law, kratom is categorized as a dietary supplement, meaning it doesn't have to pass through vigorous testing. It’s sold in tea, powder, or capsule form at many alternative health stores, smoke shops, and even cafes in the Bluegrass State.

Since kratom is legal and unregulated, there are no age restrictions, but vendors typically don't sell it to anyone under 18. There's also no limit on the amount you can buy and no requirement for alkaloid levels present on each product.

The lack of regulations has the benefit of keeping kratom legal but comes with some downsides:

• Products don't have to be lab-tested and may contain harmful chemicals, heavy metals, and adulterated alkaloids
• It can pose risks in the hands of minors who don't know how to use kratom
• Without testing, there's no way of knowing the alkaloid levels, so measuring the correct dosage is complex
• Illegitimate companies may deceive the public by labeling a product as kratom when it's another substance

Is kratom legal in the U.S.? Kratom is legal in Kentucky; it's unregulated throughout the area, including Lexington, Frankfort, Louisville, and Bowling Green.

Future predictions for kratom legality in Kentucky

In earlier years, many bills tried to ban or classify kratom as a Schedule A drug requiring a medical certificate. Recent legislative attempts are focused on ensuring the plant remains legal but better controlled.

In 2021, KY SB241 was proposed. If passed, it would've:

• Prohibited vendors from selling fake, contaminated, or adulterated products containing harmful non-kratom substances or synthetic alkaloids like morphine
• Ensured all products contain no more than 2% of 7-hydroxymitragynine in the total alkaloid content
• Required fully labeled products with all ingredients and alkaloid content
• Prevented financial institutions from refusing the service of vendors
• Given a fine of up to $1,000 for companies that don't comply with the regulations

This bill would benefit consumers by ensuring they get pure kratom and know what's in their product. It would also help separate the legitimate vendors from the dodgy ones. Unfortunately, it sat in the committee for months and eventually failed.

Since authorities want to ensure kratom is legal in Kentucky, they'll likely follow suit with other states that have legalized and regulated the plant. Most sectors have adopted the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), which does everything Senate Bill 241 would've done.

The KCPA implements third-party auditing and lab-testing for each batch of products. It ensures customers get what they pay for— pure kratom and no harmful additives. If Kentucky decides to regulate the plant, the state will adopt this act.

 

Where to buy kratom in Kentucky

The good news is since kratom is legal in Kentucky in 2023 and unregulated, you can purchase any amount at a participating store. The downside is there are no standards in place, so the untested items at local vendors may not be reliable.

Due to the absence of production mandates, it's essential you buy quality kratom that’s lab-tested and natural. All our products undergo a vigorous five-step lab test where we check for heavy metals and alkaloid content.

Our products come with alkaloid ranges, making them incredibly easy and safe to dose. Kratom is legal in the Bluegrass State, and buying one of our selections ensures you consume pure, natural products.

Kentucky is kratom-friendly

The lack of legislation means it’s technically legal, so anyone can buy, possess, and consume kratom. There have been attempts to ban it, but none were brought to fruition. It appears the state is looking to regulate the industry instead of removing it altogether.

Currently, kratom is legal in KY but without regulations. Companies don't need to test batches, and there's no guarantee you're getting pure products without synthetic chemicals. You don't have to worry about harmful additives if you buy online from Kratom Country.

Shop our selection of top-quality, lab-tested, 100% pure kratom and enjoy this healing herb with peace of mind.