Is Kratom Legal in Florida? Let’s Talk About Kratom in Florida

The past year has been extremely noteworthy for kratom in Florida. State legislators have seen not one but two bills related to the regulation and sale of kratom, and advocates from the American Kratom Association have stepped up their efforts to raise awareness about the value of regulating safe kratom products. If you’re a kratom buyer in the Sunshine State, there are a few things you need to know.

Kratom’s Legal Status in Florida

Here’s a snapshot of the current legal landscape in Florida:

• Kratom is legal in 66 of Florida’s 67 counties.
  • In these counties, it is legal to buy, sell, and possess kratom.

• Kratom is illegal in one just county: Sarasota County. County officials banned kratom in 2014, and it remains the one place where you cannot legally access kratom in Florida.
  • If you’re caught with kratom in Sarasota County, a first offense could land you a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. Subsequent offenses come with harsher penalties.

• Kratom is unregulated in Florida, which means you have to be careful when buying. There are no quality or safety standards, so make sure to shop from trusted vendors that offer kratom powders, kratom capsules, and other products of high quality.

How Legislators Are Impacting Florida Kratom 

The question isn’t whether kratom is legal in Florida. The real question is what—if any—steps legislators are taking to protect kratom customers.

In the past year, two bills have made their way through the Florida legislature: House Bill 1071 and Senate Bill 1076. Both of these bills had roughly the same language and the same goal, which was to establish a regulatory framework for kratom products. The bills sought to enact a Florida-specific version of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA).

The KCPA—which has already been made law in states like Nevada, Utah, and Georgia—would require kratom vendors to register with the state and follow specific guidelines. For instance, manufacturers would be prohibited from marketing or selling kratom with synthetic ingredients or foreign adulterants. They would also be required to submit their kratom for lab testing and adhere to maximum alkaloid requirements. In addition, kratom sales would be limited to customers ages 21 and over.

Despite the fact that both of these bills enjoyed broad bipartisan support, both died in Appropriations on March 3rd, 2022. This means that neither has been made law. However, the conversation is still very much alive, and Florida legislators may take up the issue again as advocates from the American Kratom Association remain diligent about lobbying for safer kratom in the state.

Be an Informed Buyer

For right now, the laws regarding kratom in Florida are pretty straightforward: don’t bring kratom into Sarasota County, and make sure to do your homework before you buy kratom online or in any store.

Stick with reputable retailers like The Kratom Company, which offer high-quality products sourced from family kratom farms in Southeast Asia. As long as you know who you’re buying from, you can shop with absolute confidence.