Is Kratom Legal in Arizona?

While Arizona has made certain changes to its psychoactive plant policies, such as legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, its penalties for drug possession, especially for certain substances and circumstances, can still be considered relatively harsh compared to states with more lenient laws or those that prioritize treatment over punishment for psychoactive plant-related offenses.

Where does kratom fall in the Grand Canyon State?

In 2014, there was an attempt to ban kratom in Arizona through House Bill 2453. However, this bill did not pass, and kratom remained legal.

In 2019, Arizona saw another attempt to regulate kratom with House Bill 2550. This bill aimed to classify kratom as a controlled substance, specifically as a Schedule I drug. Schedule I drugs are considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. However, this bill also did not pass, and kratom remained legal in Arizona.

However, Arizona passed the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) in April 2019, making Kratom a regulated legal substance in the state. Kratom vendors are prohibited from selling contaminated or adulterated kratom substances, must adhere to rules for labeling, and cannot sell kratom to minors.

In 2020, there were discussions about introducing new legislation to regulate kratom, but no significant changes were made to the legal status of kratom in the state.

In 2022, the KCPA was updated to redefine terms for kratom marketers. The language in the 2019 bill used the term "dealer", while the new KCPA legislation deleted the term dealer and replaced it with definitions for "processor" and "retailer".

Therefore, kratom is legal to sell, purchase, and possess in Arizona, with certain protections in place for consumers.