September 4th, 2024

Since 2017, Rhode Island residents have been unable to purchase or consume kratom due to a ban. As you may have guessed, kratom warriors haven’t been happy and have tried everything in their power to legalize it. Thankfully, they fought hard and made leeway when lawmakers took notice and introduced a bill in 2023 to legalize kratom products by regulating them.

Just when things were looking good, another roadblock popped up, and things were again in limbo. There’s been so much back-and-forth that you might get whiplash trying to keep up with everything. Starting from the ban, here’s everything you need to know about the latest status of kratom in Rhode Island. 

The Ban

In 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considered banning kratom nationwide since it was relatively new and unregulated. However, due to intense backlash, kratom remained legal at the federal level. In 2017, Rhode Island legislators, at the urging of the Department of Health (DOH), placed kratom’s main alkaloids, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and mitragynine, on its Schedule I list of substances. Essentially, this banned kratom across the state. 

At the time, lawmakers felt kratom wasn’t appropriate for its residents, and people in possession of kratom could face a misdemeanor or felony. These people could also be fined $500 or spend up to a year in prison. While kratom was down, it wasn’t out, and the fight was on.

The Bill

In February 2023, Reps. John “Jay” Edwards and Brian Patrick Kennedy co-authored H5330, also known as the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), to legalize kratom by regulating products. Under the act, lawmakers sought to set the purchase age to 21. The DOH also wanted products to be appropriately labeled and ensure customers only accessed unadulterated and contaminant-free kratom in Rhode Island.

Kratom Bill Approved

In June 2024, Rhode Island legislators legalized a kratom bill to lift the years-long ban on the Southeast Asian plant. Although there was plenty of opposition from the healthcare community, the bill passed both the Senate and the House. They claim there’s a lack of research on kratom and do not think customers of any age should have access. Despite misgivings by some, kratom advocates were cheering it up.

The Veto

But, hold up—Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee vetoed the bill a few weeks later. He cited opposition from various health agencies and even the attorney general’s office. Further, Gov. McKee noted the lack of research on the plant, suggesting that more needs to be done. As a result, kratom remains banned in The Ocean State, which the American Kratom Association has called a “tragic outcome” and claims the governor was misled by unsubstantiated information. The group vows to keep fighting to get kratom legalized in the state.

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While you can’t legally purchase kratom in Rhode Island, you can in nearly any other state. When that’s the case, trust your kratom experience to Kratom Kaps. We offer a range of exceptional products containing only the purest, most premium kratom you’ll find anywhere. Do yourself a favor and check out our dream team of a line-up.