Is Kratom Legal in Vermont?

Kratom is illegal in Vermont. Back in 2016, the Vermont Department of Health took action against the plant by adding its two main active compounds — mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine — to the state’s list of regulated drugs under 18 V.S.A. § 4234a. That single move made possessing, selling, or distributing kratom a criminal offense statewide.

What’s notable is how the ban came about. Rather than going through the legislature with a standalone bill, the Vermont Board of Health used its administrative rulemaking authority. The Board simply decided that these two alkaloids met the state’s criteria for regulated substances and folded them into the existing controlled-substances framework.

Because the statute names both mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine directly, the ban covers every form of kratom you might encounter — raw leaf, powder, capsules, extracts, whatever. It doesn’t matter if a product is marketed as a supplement or sold in small quantities for personal use. There’s no carve-out. If it contains those alkaloids, it’s prohibited.

The penalties aren’t symbolic, either. Possession of a regulated drug is a criminal charge in Vermont, and selling or distributing kratom carries steeper consequences, potentially including jail time and fines. How severe the penalty gets depends on the amount involved and whether it’s a first offense or a repeat one. Anyone facing an actual charge should talk to a Vermont attorney rather than rely on general information like this.

Vermont isn’t alone in taking this approach — Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, and Wisconsin have also banned kratom entirely. That said, plenty of other states have gone the opposite direction, adopting Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) laws that regulate kratom as a legal product with age limits and safety standards. Vermont hasn’t shown interest in that route. As of this writing, no bill is moving through the legislature to decriminalize kratom, reclassify it, or replace the ban with regulation.

There’s no legal way to purchase kratom within the state. Established vendors generally won’t ship kratom to a Vermont address precisely because doing so would violate state law — a legitimate seller isn’t going to knowingly put a customer at legal risk. If you’re a Vermont resident, ordering online from another state doesn’t create a loophole.

Kratom is legal in several states that border Vermont, including New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. That might seem like an easy workaround — drive across the border, buy it there, bring it home. It isn’t. Vermont law makes no exception for kratom that was purchased legally elsewhere. Once you bring it into the state, you’re breaking Vermont law, regardless of where it came from.

If you’re considering travel-based purchases, it’s worth reviewing how kratom laws vary by state before making a decision, since the legal landscape shifts noticeably once you cross into Vermont’s borders.

• 18 V.S.A. § 4234a — Regulated Drugs (Vermont Legislature)
• Vermont General Assembly Bill Tracker
• Amazing Botanicals Kratom Legality Hub

This article is for informational purposes only and isn’t legal advice. Laws can change, so verify current rules with local authorities or a licensed attorney before acting on this information.

Vermont’s kratom ban has been in place since 2016 and shows no sign of changing soon. If you live in Vermont, the safest and only legal path is to avoid possessing, buying, or transporting kratom into the state — even if it was purchased legally somewhere else. For a broader look at where kratom stands across the country, check a state-by-state legality resource before making any decisions.