Let’s Talk About the Kratom Laws in Mississippi

Kratom has been making headlines lately in Mississippi as talk of a potential ban on the herb has been going around since February 2022. Kratom is currently legal in Mississippi, but there is a growing movement to change that. While supporters of kratom argue that it’s an ethnobotanical plant with potential therapeutic effects, others, including law enforcement agencies, district attorney’s offices, and anti-kratom groups, are advocating for a complete ban in Mississippi.

So, what exactly does this mean? Here’s what you should know about Mississippi kratom laws so you can be informed if the situation changes.

Mississippi House Bill 681

Early this year, around mid-February, Representative Lee Yancey (Chair, Drug Policy) introduced House Bill 681 to include kratom in the Schedule I controlled substances list. What that meant was that kratom would be illegal to buy, possess, or use in Mississippi. The reasoning for the kratom ban was based on information received from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN) and other agencies.

In fact, MBN Director John Dowdy testified that kratom is “a menace to society” and compared it to methamphetamine. Despite efforts to fight the ban, House Bill 681 passed the House and headed to the Senate for consideration. This posed a huge challenge for kratom buyers and advocates in Mississippi as the kratom community continues to grow in the state. The good news is that efforts to ban kratom in Mississippi are stopped, at least for now.

Here’s a timeline of kratom ban action in 2022:

• 01/17 (House) Referred To Drug Policy
• 01/26 (House) Title Suff Do Pass
• 02/03 (House) Passed (Vote)
• 02/04 (House) Transmitted To Senate
• 02/11 (Senate) Referred To Drug Policy;Judiciary, Division B
• 03/01 (Senate) Died In Committee

So, it’s important to understand that kratom isn’t currently listed as a Schedule I controlled substance at the federal level. In fact, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has deferred making a determination on whether to list kratom as a Schedule I substance after receiving over 23,000 comments on their kratom scheduling proposal. The DEA has also acknowledged that there is a lack of scientific information about kratom and its effects on humans.

Can I Still Buy Kratom in Mississippi?

For many kratom buyers in Mississippi, the kratom laws in Mississippi are confusing. And, with the ongoing kratom ban in neighboring Arkansas, kratom buyers in Mississippi are worried that kratom may be next on the chopping block. So, can you still buy kratom in Mississippi? The short answer is yes–for now, kratom is still legal in Mississippi, except for Itawamba County, which has outlawed possession of kratom within its boundaries.

Kratom buyers across the state should be aware that the kratom laws in Mississippi could change at any time, despite the kratom ban seemingly going dead in the House Committee. This may be sad news for kratom lovers in Mississippi, but kratom is still legal in most of the state–so kratom buyers can still purchase their favorite kratom products from local and online kratom vendors.

What You Can Do as a Kratom Advocate

This is the perfect time to advocate for kratom. You can start by writing to your state legislators and letting them know kratom has helped you and share your concerns about the kratom ban in Mississippi. If you want to do more, you can join the American Kratom Association and donate to their cause. They are fighting for kratom users all over the country, and they need our help.

The goal is to ensure that kratom isn’t scheduled in Mississippi, which equals a statewide ban, making it a crime to purchase kratom. Contact your legislator, share your story, and remind them that kratom is legal at the federal level in the US. Denying kratom to people who need it is cruel. This is the time to make your voice heard if we want kratom to remain legal in Mississippi.

Get More Updates at The Kratom Company

It’s important to stay up-to-date on the Mississippi kratom laws so that you can be a responsible kratom user. Mississippi kratom users have nothing to worry about for now, but it’s always good to be prepared. Learn more about kratom’s legality at The Kratom Company. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on kratom news, laws, and information. Want to buy premium quality kratom? Shop now.