With the rise in the popularity of kratom among people of all ages, everyone is more than eager to get their hands on it. Here comes the question can anyone buy mitragyna? The answer could have been as easy as ABC, but it is not. That is why you must have typed this on the google search bar: ‘How old do you have to be to buy Kratom?’
Before stepping out of the house to buy kratom, the single most important thing is to have basic knowledge of the laws regarding Mitragyna in your country of residence. If you live in the US, first, you should be aware of whether it is legal in your state or not. So, let us shed some light on the legal status of kratom in some of the popular states of America.
Mitragyna is not federally regulated in the US. This is other words, means that, despite being legal on the federal level, the federal government does not guarantee the quality and safety of the kratom products nor regulates its sale and purchase. Therefore, the states and the municipalities choose to have individual laws when it comes to kratom.
In most of the states of America, Mitragyna is legal. However, there are some states which have banned its possession, purchase, and use. These include Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. There are some other exceptions too; for example, kratom is legal in California but not in San Diego. Therefore, it is imperative to know your state’s law before you make a purchase.
After knowing the legal status, the next step is to know if you are of the right age to buy Mitragyna so let us now address the question “How old do you have to be to buy Kratom?”
What is the age restriction to buy Kratom?
In most of the states, since Mitragyna is legal, there are no age restrictions. But there is the reason why we say most of the states and not all the states. In some states, there are age restrictions despite kratom being legal. For example, you have to be a minimum of 18 years old to buy kratom in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, and Utah. However, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Oregon require the buyer to be 21 years of age or above. In Kansas, as of now, there is no age limit; however, there is a pending bill to make its sales illegal to everyone who is below 18 years of age.
Besides these restrictions, some sellers, whether online or in local stores, may also have some of their own age restrictions. This is because the sellers do not want minors to abuse an otherwise harmless herb. Since even good things can have negative effects when abused or taken excessively, it is imperative to understand what you are taking and do not consume in excess.
What is the legal status of kratom beyond the US?
It is a valid question, and you should be aware before you fly out to the countries where it is not legal. Mitragyna is not legal in Australia, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Thailand and Vietnam. In some of the countries, the legal status of Mitragyna is not clear. It is a grey zone; therefore it will be better to err on the side of caution if you are unaware of the legal status or age restriction of kratom in any part of the world.
why all the fuss about its legality and age restriction when it is a harmless miracle herb?
Undoubtedly, Mitragyna speciosa is a miracle herb belonging to the coffee family. Despite all its miraculous effects due to its alkaloids, kratom is thought to have some addictive potential. This is the reason DEA tried to get kratom classified as a schedule 1 drug. However, DEA did not succeed. Moreover, kratom also has a range of side effects, including nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, hallucinations, etc. Therefore, if taken in excess, kratom can for sure be harmful to you. This is the main reason why certain countries have not made peace with the fact that it is a miraculous herb, and they have decided to keep it illegal. Another noteworthy point here is that the FDA has always advocated against the use of Mitragyna, and there are no FDA approved uses of this herb. However, they do not have sufficient studies and evidence to label kratom a controlled or illegal substance.
Having said that, you must be aware of both the beneficial and the adverse effects of kratom before you consume it for the first time. Moreover, it is highly imperative to check your local laws regarding mitragyna before trading any kratom. Whenever you are off on a road trip, make sure you carry kratom to the states where it is legal to avoid any problems with the law.
