Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) is a tree native to Southeast Asia. It comes from the same family of plants as coffee! Many natives use Kratom as an herbal remedy and have done so for centuries. This is because Kratom leaves produce natural alkaloid compounds that provide an assortment of benefits. The benefits are dependent on the Kratom strain and serving size of the user. Some benefits of Kratom include energy, increased focus, pro-social attitude, relaxation, restful sleep, mood enhancement, and discomfort relief.
Despite being safely used for many years in Southeast Asia, Kratom has a controversial reputation in America. Fortunately, it remains legal throughout most of the United States. However, there are some states and counties that have passed laws restricting access to Kratom.
In this article, we are going to discuss Kratom legality in the United States, focusing on the state of Florida. As well, we’ll give you some advice on what you can do to support Kratom legality and where to buy Kratom in Florida.
Is Kratom Legal in Florida?
Yes, Kratom is legal to buy, sell, and consume in Florida except for Sarasota county.
Still, Kratom has faced ongoing legal challenges in Florida. We will discuss all of the relevant bills and legislations in the upcoming sections.
Kratom Legislation in Florida
Kratom started gaining popularity in the United States in the early 2000’s, and to this day it continues to grow exponentially. Throughout the years, the state of Florida has played a pivotal role in both the clinical study (as mentioned below) and development of the legal status of Kratom.
The Sarasota County Kratom Restriction
In January 2014, Sarasota County, Florida authorized a Kratom restriction that made it illegal to buy, sell, use, or possess Kratom within the entire county. Anyone who violates that ordinance can be charged with a misdemeanor and/or be fined up to $500.
The bill misclassifies Kratom as a “synthetic chemical” or “street drug” which has caused many people to oppose the ordinance with an online petition through Change.org. These people point out the fact that Kratom is an unadulterated natural botanical with potential to provide therapeutic benefits and that itself warrants further scientific research. (We agree!)
Broward County Kratom Legislation
In 2016, a few more bills were set into motion that opposed Kratom legality. However, both of 2016's CS/SB 1182 and CS/HB 73 failed within the legislature and died in committee. There were more bills to restrict Kratom that followed in 2017, but none of them were able to gain enough traction needed to pass into law.
St. Johns County’s Kratom Restriction ATTEMPT
St. Johns County also attempted to place restrictions on Kratom after a Drug Task Force lobbied for a Kratom restriction. In 2019, the issue was brought forward to discuss with county commissioners, but the lobby was defeated after a group of Kratom advocates shared their personal story and details of Kratom’s potential benefits. This was a historic win for Kratom consumers in Florida!
The Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) in Florida
The Kratom Consumer Protection Act is a bill aimed to protect the rights of Kratom consumers while also imposing quality, labeling, and safety standards for manufacturers. It was originally brought forward by the American Kratom Association (AKA).
Republican Senator Joe Gruters made an attempt to pass SB 1076, the Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act in March of 2022. Unfortunately, the bill failed to pass into law.
Without legislation to establish standards for the Kratom industry, consumers are forced to deal with an unregulated industry where product quality poses potential safety concerns. This is why it’s extremely important to only buy Kratom from reputable vendors who are GMP-certified.
Clinical Studies of Kratom
Sadly, there is a severe lack of funding for clinical studies on Kratom and its alkaloids. Very few studies have been conducted, which has caused a lack of information for both the government and the Kratom industry regarding the benefits and potential risks of Kratom.
Organizations like the American Kratom Association collect donations for Kratom advocacy and more scientific research. Surprisingly, Florida has also made strides in clinical research of Kratom. In 2020, the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy (led by Christopher McCurdy) received two multimillion-dollar grants from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to research Kratom. The team has already conducted several studies and we hope to see even more.
Are There Restrictions on Kratom in States other than Florida?
Kratom legality varies from state to state. There are six states where Kratom is completely illegal. Those states are:
Additionally, there are six states whose cities/counties have chosen to place restrictions on Kratom. Those states are:
- Colorado: The city of Denver restricted Kratom in city limits for human consumption.
- California: San Diego and Oceanside have restricted Kratom.
- New Hampshire: Franklin city restricted Kratom.
- Mississippi: Kratom is legal at a state level, but over 20 cities and a dozen counties have chosen to restrict Kratom. We recommend contacting your local government if you live there.
- Illinois: The cities of Alton, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, and Jerseyville have all made Kratom illegal.
- Florida: As we discussed in the previous section, Kratom is restricted in Sarasota County.
The legal status of Kratom is constantly changing. It’s really important to stay updated with your local government to make sure you are abiding by the law at all times.
Luckily, the American Kratom Association provides an interactive Kratom Legality Map for your reference.
If you have any additional questions about Kratom legality, please feel free to contact us.
How Can I Help Keep Kratom Legal?
Now let’s talk about a few simple things that you can do as an advocate to help keep Kratom legal.
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Get involved in the Kratom community through social media platforms (Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, etc)
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Stay updated with Kratom related news
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Support and buy Kratom from vendors who are certified by the American Kratom Association (like Happy Hippo!)
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Share your personal Kratom story with friends and family. There’s no better way to be a Kratom advocate than to tell people how Kratom has changed your life.
If you need someone to share your story with, we are happy to hear it. Hearing the heartfelt stories about how Kratom changes lives is the whole reason why we do what we do. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Where to Buy Kratom in Florida
Now that you’re updated on the legality status of Kratom in Florida, you may be wondering, where can I buy Kratom?
Kratom products can be purchased in a handful of gas stations and smoke shops, but oftentimes their Kratom isn’t the best quality. If you want to get the most out of your money, we recommend buying Kratom online.
Hint: Happy Hippo is the best place to buy Kratom online!
Happy Hippo is proudly GMP-certified by the American Kratom Association. We take extra steps to make sure all of our Kratom is lab-tested and sterilized for your safety. We even offer FREE Kratom samples to new customers!
Happy Hippo = Best. Kratom. Ever.
- Harvested from fully mature Kratom trees
- Tested for heavy metals, salmonella, and e.coli
- All of our Kratom powder is pre-sterilized at 170 degrees
- Our high-quality Kratom powder doesn’t contain any additives or inferior botanical fillers
- All products are packaged in a certified GMP-compliant facility
- We specialize in high-quality Kratom products, but we also offer other superb alternative botanicals
- Crazy fast shipping (Customers say we’re faster than Amazon!)
- Happiest customer service
Disclaimer: We’d like to formally say that although Kratom is federally legal in the United States, the substance is not regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). We would like you to note that although this article contains many points regarding the use of Kratom, they should only serve as a piece of information - not medical advice.
Kratom is not intended to cure, diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or condition. Make sure to speak to a physician if you have questions.
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