How Old Do You Have to be to Buy Kratom?
- February 2026
- By: Coco Johnson
Kratom is a popular botanical whose star is on the rise. According to survey data from the National Institute of Health, 5% of the United States population reported using kratom in the past month in 2020. Experts and advocates believe this number has grown significantly in the past five years due to increased awareness around kratom and its potential benefits. It’s also led many to wonder about the plant’s legal status and kratom age limits.
How old do you have to be to purchase kratom products? The answer is that it depends. In some states, individuals must be 18 or older to buy or use kratom. In other states, the lowest kratom age limit is 21. However, due to kratom’s unregulated status at the federal level, questions about its legality ultimately fall to individual states – or even individual counties and cities.
So if you’re confused about the age to buy kratom, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most frequently asked questions we hear. In this article, you’ll find the answers you need to use kratom responsibly.
Kratom’s Legality in the US
In the United States, many substances are legally restricted to adults. Tobacco, alcohol, legalized cannabis and CBD products, and certain over-the-counter medications require a valid, government-issued ID that proves the user is over a certain age. Legal age limits protect young people from potential health hazards associated with underage consumption.
Kratom occupies a unique space in this conversation. Currently, it is not regulated at the federal level in the US. Similar to many other botanicals and supplements, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved kratom as a treatment for any medical condition. But it hasn’t banned kratom, either. Currently, the US federal government has left it up to the states to decide whether to approve or prohibit kratom usage.
Before learning about kratom age limits, it’s important to find out if kratom is legal where you live. If you live in a state with a kratom ban, you cannot purchase or use kratom – no matter how old you are. However, other states allow adults to use kratom while enacting restrictions for minors.
Due to this patchwork of varying legality, always research regional kratom laws before traveling. Taking kratom products to a state, county, or city where it’s prohibited may result in potential legal problems.
States That Have Banned Kratom
As of 2025, several states have banned kratom use for adults and minors alike. In these states, your age doesn’t matter – kratom is simply illegal. While we disagree with these laws, it’s important to respect them and seek to change kratom’s legal status through advocacy efforts.
Kratom is currently banned in:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Additionally, some smaller municipalities have banned kratom at the local level. This means that kratom may be legal in other parts of the state, but not a specific county or city. Counties and cities that have banned kratom include:
- San Diego, CA
- Oceanside, CA
- Laurel, MS
- Marion, MS
- Jones County, MS
- Godfrey, IL
- Alton, IL
- Jerseyville, IL
- Sarasota County, FL
- Denver, CO
- Chelmsford, MA
- Franklin, NH
- Zachary, LA
- East Feliciana Parish, LA
Kratom Age Limit by State
So what is the kratom age limit in states that haven’t enacted the ban? Generally, the minimum age to buy kratom is set at 18 or 21.
States Where You Must Be 18+
If you’re age 18 or older, you can purchase kratom and kratom products in Arizona, Utah, and Georgia, as well as New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Illinois (except for Jerseyville, IL, which has enacted its own ban).
States Where You Must Be 21+
Other states require that individuals purchasing kratom are age 21 or older, similar to the legal minimum requirement for purchasing and consuming alcohol. States where the kratom age limit is 21 include Tennessee and South Dakota.
Other States
In many states, kratom remains unregulated – and thus, there is no explicit age limit. However, some vendors often set a self-imposed age limit. They require buyers to be legal adults because kratom use is not recommended for minors.
Buying Kratom Online
Due to kratom’s unregulated status, enforcement for age limits also varies online. Many online kratom stores require users to be 21+ and may perform age verification at checkout. Other vendors simply accept a shopper’s self-reported age.
Regardless of kratom age limits, if you’re buying kratom online, be aware of your local laws. Shipping kratom products to a state or city where it is banned may carry legal penalties that land you in hot water. Don’t assume what’s legal in one town will be permissible in the next. When in doubt, verify with a state government website or a reputable vendor who keeps up with the legal landscape.
The Importance of Kratom Advocacy
Although kratom is a natural substance, it has physiological effects on the mind and body. Many users report that these effects have a positive impact on their wellness and change their lives for the better.
Yet there is significant misinformation about kratom, which often leads to its outright ban rather than sensible regulation. Advocates support kratom research so that issues such as age restrictions are supported by science.
Without strong advocacy, decisions about who can legally purchase or use kratom often end up in the hands of lawmakers who may not fully understand this potent plant. If you support consumer’s rights to use kratom, get involved with a local advocacy group such as the American Kratom Association.
In many cases, the alternative to advocacy is a blanket prohibition driven by stigma. By showing up with data, personal stories, and calls for thoughtful regulation, the kratom community has already helped pass laws in places like Utah and Georgia that both protect consumers and keep kratom legal for adults – and help ensure that underage users do not have access to kratom products.
Always Use Kratom Responsibly
If you are legally old enough to buy kratom, it’s still important to use it responsibly:
- Always keep kratom products out of reach of children and pets
- Don’t use it if you’re pregnant or nursing
- Do not take kratom with alcohol, cannabis, or other substances
- Know your limits: If you’re unsure of your tolerance, start with the lowest possible dose and gradually increase it as your body adjusts
- Drink plenty of water
Finally, remember that kratom is not approved by the FDA as a treatment for any medical condition. If you currently take prescription medications or have any underlying health concerns, always speak to a medical professional prior to using kratom.
We also recommend sourcing your kratom from a reputable vendor that practices testing from an independent, third-party lab. This verifies that your kratom products are pure, accurately labeled, and free from potentially harmful additives or contaminants.
At Kratom Spot, we test all our products to guarantee purity and freshness. Shop now.