Kratom has a complicated relationship with the law in the United States, unfortunately. Whether you’re in California or Vermont, you need to know if kratom is legal in your state and stay up to date on the local laws and regulations, as they often change.
With scenic, rolling mountains, quality skiing, and an open-minded culture, the Green Mountain state seems like the perfect place for the kratom connoisseur. In addition to all the wonderful outdoor activities during any season, Vermont is known for its organic, locally-produced food. So, why wouldn’t we want to enjoy our favorite organic, all-natural kratom powder there too?
Before doing so, it’s important to check with any Vermont kratom laws—sadly, our favorite botanical isn’t legal everywhere in the United States just yet.
What Is Kratom’s Legal Status in Vermont?
We’ll start with the bad news. We hate to say it, but kratom is not yet legal in the Green Mountain state. However, the keyword to focus on is “yet.” In 2016, the two main alkaloids found in kratom—mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine—were both added to Vermont’s controlled substance list. This seems like bad news for the future of kratom in the state of Vermont, but we’re here to give Vermont residents some hope. Kratom laws are constantly changing, so the legal landscape for Mitragyna speciosa leaves in the United States is still very fluid. So, kratom is not legal in Vermont today, but that could change someday soon.
Vermont is among the only six states that have banned the use of kratom, alongside Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. There are a number of reasons why only some states have banned kratom. Mostly, this is due to a lack of accurate information as to what kratom is. For example, kratom is legal in Florida almost everywhere, except in Sarasota County, where it is banned.
However, it does appear that there is hope for the future of Vermont kratom laws. Lawmakers in Vermont may have realized the error in their ways. There is an open bill that, if passed, would decriminalize kratom and other herbs. Additionally, the American Kratom Association (AKA) submitted a petition on March 1, 2023, to the Vermont Department of Health. This petition requested that mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, kratom’s primary alkaloids, be removed from the Regulated Drug Rule. The good news? The petition was granted! Here’s the bad news: this process takes quite a bit of time. Unfortunately, this means that kratom is still not legal in Vermont until the Department of Health commences rulemaking to complete the process of removing these all-natural alkaloids from the controlled substance list in Vermont.
Advocacy for Kratom Regulation
It is clear there is a lot of confusion around the status of kratom in Vermont right now. With conflicting petitions, bills, and laws, it’s no wonder that residents of Vermont are unsure whether they can enjoy their favorite natural supplement. Thankfully, not all kratom lovers are just waiting to see when the Vermont Department of Health removes mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine from the controlled substance list. The AKA—the organization that filed the petition to ensure kratom is legal in Vermont—has been hard at work raising awareness and advocating for kratom across the country. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting research and helpful regulations for kratom, including changing Vermont kratom laws.
Their main focus has been to encourage as many states as possible to adopt the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). Not only does this act ensure the legality of kratom in any state that adopts it, but it also creates regulations that would make sure legal kratom is standardized and safe. The KCPA is designed to protect the consumer, preventing the sale of mislabeled, adulterated, or fake products. Ideally, when kratom is legal in Vermont, Vermont lawmakers will pass the KCPA too. This way, Vermont residents can safely enjoy kratom, protected from untrustworthy retailers and low-quality products. Even in states without the KCPA, though, there are reputable vendors to buy from. Your best chance of finding safe, pure kratom products is to buy kratom online only from specialized kratom vendors who test all of their products via a third-party laboratory prior to packaging.
Currently, in 2024, twelve states have already adopted the KCPA. This is good news! Change takes time, and the United States is moving in the right direction. We predict the answer to, “Is kratom legal in Vermont?” will soon be a yes. If you want to be part of the effort to legalize kratom in Vermont, the AKA is always looking for additional individual support for their efforts. Changing Vermont kratom laws won’t be easy, but luckily the ball is already rolling and the momentum is in full swing.
Where Can Vermont Residents Enjoy Kratom?
Unfortunately, Vermont residents may not possess kratom until the laws are changed and kratom’s alkaloids are removed from Vermont’s controlled substances list. Until kratom is legal in Vermont, residents are prohibited from making online kratom purchases to be delivered to the state as well. So, what are the options for Vermont residents to enjoy some uplifting white vein kratom or relaxing red vein kratom? Residents of the Green Mountain state will have to wait until they travel outside of Vermont to buy and possess kratom. Fortunately, kratom is legal in New York and other nearby states such as Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut. For more information on where kratom is legal in the United States, check out our legality map.
Let’s recap: is kratom legal in Vermont? No, but the state has pending laws to reverse the ban. Patience is key in the Green Mountain state!