Kratom Banned in Arkansas: What the Law Covers and What Buyers Need to Know

Arkansas lists kratom's two main alkaloids as Schedule I controlled substances. What that covers, the 2025 bill that tried to change it, and what it means if you live in or travel through the state.

Short answer: kratom is illegal in Arkansas. As of October 2026, the state's List of Controlled Substances puts mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, kratom's two best-known alkaloids, in Schedule I. A 2025 bill to legalize and regulate kratom passed the Arkansas Senate but died in the House. Buying, possessing, selling or bringing kratom into Arkansas is a controlled-substance matter. Laws change, so check before buying.

This page has no purchase links, because kratom can't legally be bought in Arkansas.

What the Arkansas ban covers

Arkansas controls kratom through the Arkansas Department of Health's List of Controlled Substances (007.07.18 Ark. Code R. 002), not through a kratom-specific statute. In the version we reviewed, which shows an effective date of July 11, 2019, Schedule I includes:

"(24) Mitragynine" and "(25) 7-Hydroxymitragynine"

Both are listed under the heading "Opium derivatives: (Narcotic Drugs)." Schedule I is the most restrictive category. It's reserved for substances the state considers to have high abuse potential and no accepted medical use.

Because the listing targets the alkaloids, it covers every kratom form that contains them:

• Leaf powder and crushed leaf
• Capsules and tablets
• Liquid extracts, shots and tinctures
• Gummies, teas and drink mixes
• Concentrated and semi-synthetic "7-OH" products

The National Conference of State Legislatures' June 2026 summary also lists Arkansas among the states that schedule kratom or its components in Schedule I, alongside Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Vermont and Wisconsin.

The 2025 attempt to change it

Senate Bill 534 of 2025, titled "To Establish the Arkansas Kratom Consumer Protection Act," would have removed mitragynine and 7-OH from the controlled-substances list and replaced the ban with regulation. Its path:

So the ban stands. A similar bill could return when the legislature next meets in regular session. Arkansas holds regular sessions in odd-numbered years, so 2027 is the next chance. Rhode Island showed a ban can be reversed: NCSL reports that it now regulates kratom sales but prohibits 7-OH products outright.

State law vs federal law

People sometimes point out that kratom isn't federally scheduled. That's true as of October 2026, but it doesn't help in Arkansas:

• States can be stricter than federal law. A substance can be legal federally and controlled under state law, and state police and prosecutors enforce state law.
• Federal action is moving the same direction. The FDA recommended scheduling certain 7-OH products in July 2025. The DEA placed mitragynine pseudoindoxyl in temporary Schedule I in August 2026 and has filed a notice to temporarily schedule 7-OH above a threshold. None of that loosens Arkansas's ban.
• The FDA hasn't approved kratom for any use. It says kratom isn't lawfully marketed as a drug, dietary supplement or food additive.

How to check whether the law has changed

1. Check the Arkansas Department of Health's current List of Controlled Substances for mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
2. Search the Arkansas State Legislature's bill site for "kratom" in the current or upcoming session.
3. Read the effective date of any bill that passed. Legalization doesn't apply until then.
4. Look for implementing rules. A regulated market usually comes with registration, labeling and testing rules that take time to set up.

Our state-by-state guide is updated as laws change, but the official sources are the final word.

Penalties

Schedule I substances fall under Arkansas's controlled-substances laws, where penalties depend on the amount, the conduct (possession, delivery, trafficking) and a person's record. We don't list penalty figures here, because they turn on specifics, and a summary could mislead. If you're facing a charge, talk to an Arkansas criminal-defense attorney.

What buyers need to know

If you live in Arkansas

• Online orders: legitimate vendors block Arkansas addresses. If a seller will ship kratom to Arkansas, it's ignoring state law, and probably cutting other corners too.
• Don't ship to an out-of-state address and bring it home. Possession in Arkansas is the offense, wherever the package was delivered. Our guide to stuck, seized or returned orders explains why canceled orders happen.
• Products not labeled "kratom" can still contain mitragynine. "Botanical," "herbal" and "mood" products with vague labels are a risk. The FDA has warned about products with undeclared kratom alkaloids.
• Drug testing: see kratom and drug tests if testing applies to you.

If you see kratom for sale in Arkansas

A product on a shelf isn't proof it's legal. Stores sometimes sell kratom under other names, or sell it anyway. Don't buy it. Anything sold illegally has no reason to be honestly labeled, and buying it puts you in possession of a Schedule I substance. Concerns about a store can go to local law enforcement.

If you're traveling through Arkansas

Interstate travel doesn't create an exception. Carrying kratom bought legally in Oklahoma, Missouri or Mississippi into Arkansas means possessing a Schedule I substance in Arkansas. Plan the route or leave it at home. Our traveling with kratom guide covers state lines and air travel.

If you're moving to Arkansas

Don't bring kratom with you, and cancel any subscription before your address changes. If you use kratom regularly, talk to a clinician before you move. Stopping after regular use can cause withdrawal. See our dependence and withdrawal guide.

If you already use kratom and live in Arkansas

Some Arkansans use kratom bought elsewhere. The legal exposure is real, and so is the health side of stopping. If you use kratom regularly:

• Talk to a clinician about stopping. NIDA describes mild to moderate withdrawal in some people who stop regular use, and there are no approved treatments specifically for it.
• The SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) is free, confidential and open 24/7. Treatment conversations are medical, not law enforcement.
• For a bad reaction or possible poisoning, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 in an emergency.

Arkansas and its neighbors (as of October 2026)

For the full picture, see kratom legal vs banned states. City and county rules can be stricter than state law in states where kratom is legal.

The FDA has not approved kratom for any use, there is no established safe dose, and anyone considering it should talk to a clinician first. For confidential help with substance use, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

As of October 2026. Laws change, so check before buying. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

• Arkansas List of Controlled Substances, 007.07.18 Ark. Code R. 002 (Schedule I entries 24 and 25): law.cornell.edu
• Arkansas SB 534 (2025), "To Establish the Arkansas Kratom Consumer Protection Act," bill history: pluralpolicy.com
• NCSL, "Lawmakers Weigh Guardrails, Bans on Kratom and 7-OH" (June 30, 2026): ncsl.org
• NIDA, "Kratom" (updated March 11, 2026): nida.nih.gov
• DEA notice of intent, FR Doc. 2026-20943: federalregister.gov
• HHS, FDA 7-OH scheduling recommendation (July 29, 2025): hhs.gov
• FDA, "FDA and Kratom" (updated December 2, 2025): fda.gov