Sweden Bans Kratom Completely

In 2016, Sweden became one of a handful of European nations to ban kratom. However, it was legal to purchase and import from a European Union member state where kratom is legal. As of March 11, 2025, this is no longer the case.

Previously, mitragynine, kratom's main alkaloid, has been considered a narcotic in Sweden since 1992, but not the plant material itself. Kratom was officially banned in Sweden in 2016, following concerns about its safety and potential for misuse. Before the ban, kratom was available in products like "Krypton," which was linked to 9 fatalities due to contamination with O-desmethyltramadol. Until last week, however, it continued to be legal to market kratom as soap and sell legally. 

Therefore, Sweden's public health agency recommended a reclassification in January 2025 in order to close loopholes in the law and stop its importation.

“It has been very unsatisfactory that kratom has been able to be sold completely unregulated in Sweden as a result of a hole in the legislation," said Swedish Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed.

According to the Swedish Customs Service, imports of kratom to Sweden went from 3 tons in 2019 to 42 tons in 2023.

The move was implemented ahead of the 68th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs that took place in Vienna, Austria.

In general, Sweden’s drug policies aim for a narcotics-free society, classifying harmful substances and penalizing unlawful importation with fines or imprisonment. The country emphasizes client-centered drug treatment, offering services like detoxification, residential facilities, and opioid substitution therapy, primarily managed by social services and county councils.

Despite the dramatic increase in kratom imports, there have been no studies in Sweden examining the impact of kratom consumption on addiction to other substances.

According to reports, police in Hälsingland, a province in east central Sweden, have already seized quantities of kratom.