Arkansas is home to over 8 million people, but is kratom legal in Arkansas? You cannot buy, sell, or possess kratom in Arkansas. Let’s explore more about the legalities of kratom and why it is not available in this state.
Are Kratom Products Legalised In The State Of Arkansas?
Currently, kratom is prohibited throughout the state of Arkansas. This means you cannot buy kratom or possess it if you live in this state or plan to visit. While kratom is not regulated at a federal level, each state can decide how to handle it.
In doing so, some places have made it legal, and others have entirely outlawed this herb from the state. Others, such as Florida, have legalized its use, but distinct areas in the state have outlawed it. So, you can buy kratom anywhere in Florida except for Sarasota County. This can make it difficult for the state's residents to know all the legalities surrounding kratom.
However, at this time, you will not have to worry about these scenarios as kratom is illegal in all areas of Arkansas, including Little Rock, Fayetteville, Hot Springs, Bentonville, and Fort Smith.
Kratom Legality In Arkansas
Kratom is native to Southeast Asia. Very few states have entirely banned kratom, but Arkansas is one of them. If caught with Mitragyna Speciosa, you could encounter criminal charges. The ban on kratom took place in October 2015.
With the popularity of kratom rising, lawmakers began looking at kratom more cautiously. In addition, health officials took notice of incidences across the nation that included this all-natural remedy. Inaccurate information caused kratom to be banned in Arkansas.
In 2017, medical examiners brought claims that kratom was linked to three deaths in Arkansas. The physician placed kratom as having alkaloids (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) derived from opium. Opium derivatives come from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), while kratom or Mitragyna speciosa is a coffee (Rubiaceous) family plant.
This directed the Food and Drug Administration to issue an order, the turning point for kratom in Arkansas.
Classification Of Kratom In Arkansas
Is kratom legal in Arkansas? No, it has been classified alongside other dangerous substances. Since Arkansas lawmakers decided to follow the FDA’s suggestion, kratom became part of the Schedule I Substance list in February 2016.
This came after a public comment period, making kratom illegal to purchase and possess. The listing of kratom was directed by the compounds within this herb. Arkansas’s Department of Health linked these compounds as being harmful to people.
The Schedule I Substance list was amended to include mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. This classified kratom as an Opium Derivative alongside heroin, codeine, and morphine.
Why Is Kratom Illegal In Arkansas?
Kratom is illegal in Arkansas because it has been named a controlled substance. As part of the Schedule I Substance list, buying, selling, or possessing kratom in Arkansas is unlawful. Doing so will lead to criminal charges.
Criminal Charges For Kratom In Arkansas
Buying, selling, or possessing kratom in Arkansas is a felony. It will all depend on the amount of Mitragyna Speciosa you have. Two grams or more and being caught near certain facilities could lead to up to 10 years in prison. These facilities include parks, schools, places of worship, daycare centers, video arcades, and public housing projects.
As a whole, anyone who buys, sells, or possesses kratom in Arkansas could face up to 30 years in prison. The consequences are not worth owning kratom, so if you are in this area, do not plan to have your kratom with you. If you wish to use kratom, Arkansas is not where you want to relax. Be active when offering support, and these laws could change. However, for now, you should not risk having kratom in Arkansas.
Kratom use is illegal in Rhode Island, Alabama, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Vermont. Check out our legality page for more information on these states.
The American Kratom Association
The American Kratom Association is the leading advocacy group for kratom in the United States. They can offer help when there are talks of bans. They have been very successful in overturning legislation that intended to ban kratom.
The American Kratom Association has also developed GMP protocols to help regulate the industry. As a member of the AKA, we adhere to all GMP rules. This lets us offer you the highest possible kratom without worrying about contaminants.
Also, the AKA is working to get every state on board with the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. This act aims to regulate the kratom industry, making it secure for consumers and helping appease worried lawmakers.
The American Kratom Association hopes that Arkansas will listen to their proposal of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act and come to a resolution for kratom in their state. However, no decision has been made to adopt this act and help regulate the state industry.
Activist Efforts
Advocacy efforts for kratom have been unsuccessful in overturning the kratom ban. Both members of the AKA and kratom users have tried to help lawmakers see the beneficial side of kratom.
Various petitions and social media pages have been active since the ban on kratom in 2015. Suppose you are a resident of Arkansas and want to see Mitragyna Speciosa legalized. In that case, please take the time to reach out to your local and state representatives. This is the only way that the current ban will be overturned.
WHAT IS THE KRATOM CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT?
The Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) is a bill that will help place regulations on the kratom market nationwide.
The following concerns will be addressed:
- Manufacture, distribution, sale, and possession of kratom
- Production, allocation, and selling contaminated kratom
- Age Limitations
- Penalties and fines
- Testing kratom
- Marking kratom products
The KCPA was introduced by the American Kratom Association (AKA) and the Botanical Education Alliance (BEA). The AKA hopes they can soon get all states on board with adopting the KCPA. This will regulate the industry and make it a much safer place for kratom consumers. The most significant issue lawmakers have with kratom is that the industry is not regulated. This act will help appease those worries and allow citizens to use kratom freely.
Buying Kratom Online
The federal government does not regulate kratom, so each state is left to decide how to handle this herb. So, if you are trying to buy kratom online and have it shipped to your home in Arkansas, you would be out of luck. No kratom vendor will ship products to areas where kratom is banned. Therefore, you are out of luck if you want to try kratom and live in Arkansas.
No shops in the state are legally allowed to offer kratom. Nor are there online vendors who will ship to an address within this state. You will not want to live in Arkansas if you are a kratom enthusiast. If caught with it, you could face criminal charges because it is on the Schedule I List as a controlled substance.
Oasis Kratom
We hope this blog has answered your question, “Is kratom legal in Arkansas?” Sadly, we cannot offer our products if you live in this area. However, we encourage you to become active in the AKA and push to legalize kratom throughout the state. If you have any questions about kratom, let us know. Otherwise, you can check back here for the latest news on the legalities of kratom in Arkansas.