Alabama or “The Heart of Dixie” is where the Civil War started. It’s also the home state of Harper Lee, the author of the American classic To Kill a Mockingbird.
While Louisiana is popular for the Mardi Gras Festival, Alabama is the state that introduced it to the western world.
So, how does Sweet Home Alabama treat kratom?
Is Kratom Legal in Alabama?
Kratom is banned in Alabama. Since 2016, kratom has been a Schedule I controlled substance in Alabama. It is illegal to sell, possess, manufacture, or distribute it within the state.
In 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced its intent to schedule kratom on a federal level. Due to activism from the kratom community, this did not succeed. Kratom remained legal in most of the United States.
However, the State of Alabama decided otherwise.
In 2016, the Alabama Senate made mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the two most abundant alkaloids in kratom powder, illegal. Due to this Alabama is one of the six states that have banned kratom. Some counties and cities such as Sarasota County in Florida have outlawed kratom too.
According to the wording of the bill, both kratom alkaloids fall under synthetic substances. This is an inaccurate portrayal of kratom despite its natural origin. The main reasons for including kratom in the controlled substances list are that it is untested and no medical benefits have been determined.
There was a petition urging the authorities to vote against the ban in 2016 and another suggesting its repeal in 2017. Unfortunately, none of them succeeded.
Penalties for Possessing or Selling Kratom Products in Alabama
The primary kratom alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are Schedule I substances in Alabama. They are listed along with harmful drugs such as fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin.
According to state law, these substances have no medical use and a high potential for abuse. While this is true for fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and other dangerous narcotics, it’s not accurate about kratom.
Nonetheless, the sales and possession of kratom are not allowed in Alabama. Possession of kratom for personal use is a Class C felony in Alabama. If convicted one can face:
- One to ten years in prison, and
- A fine of up to $15,000.
Penalties are harsher for repeat offenders. They face:
- Two to twenty years in prison, and
- A fine of up to $30,000.
Those who try to sell kratom in the state risk even stiffer penalties.
These charges do not only apply to local people. You also risk facing criminal charges if you travel to or through Alabama.
This is sadly what happened to a 24-year-old man who drove through the state. He had purchased kratom products in Louisiana and was transporting them to Florida. Having driven through Mississippi where kratom is legal, the young man was arrested in Alabama for trafficking an illegal substance. He didn’t know about the legal status of kratom there.
Efforts to Reverse the Ban
Though kratom isn’t legal in Alabama, this may change in the future. The American Kratom Association (AKA) is a non-profit advocacy group that works to ensure that kratom is not only legal but also regulated.
The AKA uses donation money to lobby the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). It is legislation that regulates kratom sales and manufacture.
No legal action has taken place in Alabama yet. However, bills to reverse the ban have been proposed in other states, namely Vermont and Rhode Island.
If you would like to help the AKA work on reversing the ban, you can donate to support it.
Where to Buy Kratom in Alabama?
At this moment, it is not legal to buy kratom products in Alabama. Therefore, buying, selling, and possessing kratom in Alabama is a felony.
Because kratom in Alabama is illegal by law it is also not possible to buy it online. Vendors won’t ship to Alabama or other locations that have banned kratom.
Hopefully, advocacy succeeds, and one day the Alabama authorities reverse the kratom ban.
However, right now, if you reside in Alabama, we advise you not to try to acquire kratom. Even if you are looking for ways to improve your well-being. Doing so may put your legal status at risk. It may also negatively affect the reputation of kratom in the US. That’s because the media uses any opportunity to showcase negative kratom stories.
Would you like to see a U.S. kratom legality map along with detailed information on whether kratom is legal in your state? Please refer to this blog post.
