The Story of Kratom

The following information is provided for your convenience and is not an official representation of the opinion of Kratom of the Tropics. Kratom of the Tropics does not support or suggest the misuse of this product in any way. Kratom products are for scientific and experimental purpose only. Please see our disclaimer for more details about our Kratom products. These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Kratom products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or disorders.

History and Tradition of Kratom

Thought to have been discovered by Dutch people settling in Thailand in the early 1800s, Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) remained exclusive to most of southeast Asia until it was eventually brought to western countries in the 20th century. Called "biak" or "ketum" in Malaysia and "krathom" in Thailand, Kratom has been used by rural Asian people for thousands of years. 

Kratom Today

Today, Kratom is illegal to possess in Thailand. However, a research paper published by the Transnational Institute, Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies states that, owing to Kratom's cultural heritage and continued acceptance in Thailand and other SE Asian countries, Kratom should not be illegal because, in addition to being less harmful than the betel nut (legal in Asia),  Kratomuse does not lead to stigmatization of users. Thais and Malaysians view use of Kratom like westerners view coffee. Authors of the paper argue that Kratom is a deeply embedded aspect of the rural Asian lifestyle in Thailand and is included in many customs, traditions and ceremonial events.

Recent data indicates seven out of ten men in southern Thailand use Kratom daily.

Regulatory History of Kratom

The government of Thailand passed the Kratom Act 2486 on August 3, 1943 making it illegal to possess Kratom leaves or plant Kratom trees in Thailand. The Kratom Act was established due to its increasing use following a significant rise in opium prices and the Thai government's attempt to control the opium market. Fifty-six years later, in 1979, the Thailand government put kratom and marijuana in their Category Five narcotics classification. However, arrests for Kratom possession or use made up only two percent of narcotic arrests in Thailand between 1987 and 1992. Since 1979, Thailand has considered making Kratom legal to cultivate and use three different times--in 2004, 2009 and 2014.

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As of 2018, it is illegal to grow, sell and use Kratom in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Ireland, Malaysia.

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History of Kratom Regulations in the United States

Kratom was legal to grow and purchase in all 50 states until 2015 when the Food and Drug Administration coordinated with the DEA and other associated departments to seize shipments of Kratom coming to the U.S. from SE Asia countries. In 2016, the DEA attempted to list Kratom as a controlled substance. This action drew strong and widespread condemnation from people within the Kratom community.

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As of June, 2018, Kratom is illegal to buy, sell, and use in Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., Vermont, Indiana, Arkansas, and Alabama. Sarasota County in Florida and San Diego, California have also made Kratom illegal, although the states of Florida and California have NOT enacted laws against Kratom.