Is Kratom Legal In Florida? [2023 Update]

Here at Kratom Monkey, we break down the complicated legal stuff into easy-to-digest chunks. And as a long-time Florida resident and kratom fanatic, I know more than about the bills alone. I also have a keen eye for the situation on the ground!

Here is everything you need to know about the legality of kratom in Florida in 2023.

Kratom is both federally legal and legal in the state of Florida, except for Sarasota County. We will talk more about them later.

Since kratom is not listed as a controlled substance, there are no restrictions on use, possession, or distribution, according to federal and Florida state law.

Walk into a head shop in Miami, St Petersburg, or elsewhere, and you will probably see kratom on the shelves. Both online and brick-and-mortar vendors can sell products with confidence. Likewise, customers can purchase and use them while staying on the right side of the law.

This is where things get tricky. Florida state does not regulate kratom, but Sarasota County holds a different view. Home to more than 400,000 people, the Southwest Florida county banned kratom in January 2014 via a county ordinance.

The ordinance describes kratom as a “designer drug”. Such substances are illegal to manufacture, possess, sell, purchase, and more. There is no way around it. Having anything to do with kratom in Sarasota County is bad news.

And they take it seriously. If caught with kratom in Sarasota, you will face a mandatory court appearance, a $500 fine, and/or a maximum of 60 days in county jail. It just is not worth the risk.

Kratom users living near Sarasota County should bear this in mind. Crossing county lines with kratom on your person could lead to a nasty surprise.

The future is never certain, but Floridians should be confident about kratom’s legal future in the state. While some state lawmakers tried banning kratom a few years ago, their attempts were unsuccessful. All the bills failed to pass, often getting stuck in committee.

For example, House Bill 73 attempted to make kratom alkaloids illegal in 2016. However, the bill died in the judiciary committee before gaining significant traction.

Then we had Senate Bill 424 in 2017, which also looked to ban products containing kratom alkaloids. That bill died in Criminal Justice a few months after being introduced.

Fortunately, federal efforts to make kratom illegal seem to have come and gone. We have the passionate kratom community to thank for that! If anything, the next relevant federal legislation could be to protect kratom. And that would be great news for kratom users in Florida.

However, kratom users should stay informed about the latest developments. As researchers learn more about kratom, lawmakers may adjust their position. Compared to other substances, scientists know relatively little about kratom. And that means things can change fast. Partial restrictions are also possible, albeit perhaps unlikely. In early 2022, Florida Senate lawmakers mooted legislation (SB 1076) to ban the sale of kratom products to individuals under 21 years of age.

Thankfully, the bill died in appropriations. But it showed that kratom is on the legal radar. With products more popular than ever, that isn’t likely to change anytime soon.

Furthermore, nothing is stopping counties, cities, towns, or parishes from having ideas about banning kratom. Sarasota County is the obvious example, but we have seen small-scale kratom bans in other states. Be sure to stay up to date with the law in your location.

With no statewide restrictions, kratom is widely available in Florida. Unless you live in Sarasota County, of course. I often spot kratom products for sale in convenience stores, gas stations, vape shops, and head shops.

But I don’t purchase from such retailers for several reasons, including price and quality. Instead, I get all my kratom from reputable and specialist online retailers. It is a slam-dunk decision for me.

Firstly, online sellers can offer products at lower prices than online retailers, thanks to fewer operating costs. The more expensive the product, the longer it is likely to linger on the shelves. And that means a loss of potency and freshness with each passing day.

Secondly, product purity is not guaranteed when buying from a non-specialist retailer. No kidding, I have seen some sketchy-looking kratom products in gas stations over the years!

In contrast, the leading online stores verify kratom product quality. They do this through third-party lab reports and independent customer reviews. I care deeply about whether my kratom is as potent as stated and free from impurities - and you should, too!

Sure, you might find high-quality kratom in-person in Florida. It is simply trickier and more time-consuming. And since the best online vendors tick the boxes on price, purity, and freshness, it just makes more sense to buy on the web!