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With many states taking different stances toward kratom, you must understand the law in your area. Is kratom legal in Georgia? That is what we will discuss in this post.
Rest assured, kratom is legal in Georgia! More than that, Georgia is one of several states that regulate kratom, having passed a version of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). But how does this impact the average kratom user in the Peach State?
Keep reading to learn more about Georgia’s kratom laws, the state’s KCPA, and what may happen in the years ahead. As a regular traveler to Georgia, it is a state I have come to know well.
Understanding Kratom Legality in Georgia
Kratom is legal in Georgia for persons aged 18 and over. Products are legal throughout the state with no restrictions at county, city, or other lower legislative levels. There is no catch: adults can walk into a store selling kratom in Georgia and purchase some, no questions asked!
However, all kratom vendors in Georgia must abide by the Georgia Kratom Consumer Protection Act. The legislation imposes numerous conditions on the industry, which we will examine in more depth later.
But remember that kratom is not legal everywhere. For example, kratom is banned in neighboring Alabama. If traveling in the Georgia region, make sure you know the law if crossing state lines. Better safe than sorry, and a lapse of judgment could have nasty consequences.
Before we analyze the regulated kratom market in Georgia, let’s discuss how they got there.
The History of Kratom Legality in Georgia
The battle to keep kratom legal has perhaps been waged more fiercely in Georgia than in any other U.S. state. Indeed, lawmakers came close to outlawing kratom a few years ago with House Bill 783.
Following public concerns about kratom risks, the two rockstar alkaloids in the plant (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) were added to HB783. If the bill passed in such shape, kratom would have been classified as a Schedule I substance in Georgia.
This legal attack fueled a stunning fightback from the kratom community, led by the American Kratom Association (AKA). Passionate kratom users shared their stories and pleaded their case and, after much effort, the mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine were removed from HB783.
And the AKA’s kratom advocacy efforts did not stop there. The group supported Georgia’s Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), which has brought regulatory clarity to the market.
What is the Georgia Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA)?
In 2019, Georgia became the second U.S. state (after Utah) to pass a version of the KCPA. With a unanimous 50-0 decision in the Senate and a 164-1 decision in the House, the legislation (House Bill 551) garnered remarkable support.
The Georgia KCPA shows that regulation need not be a scary word. Rather than impose restrictions on the kratom market, the KCPA is making it safer. And thanks to the AKA’s input, the act consists of guidelines that make sense! These include:
Restricting the possession, sale, and transfer of kratom to persons aged 18 and over
Requiring manufacturers to state the amount of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in a product on the label
Requiring kratom vendors to label kratom-containing products and provide a clearly labeled ingredients list on the packaging
Providing clear and adequate directions for the safe and effective use
Violating the Georgia KCPA carries a penalty of up to a $1000 fine and one-year imprisonment.
Thanks to the KCPA, kratom users in Georgia have a higher quality industry than before. For example, the alkaloid content labeling requirement means you know how potent a product is. No guessing or experimenting, just precise dosing time after time!
What Does the Future Hold for Kratom in Georgia?
With any luck, the dust has settled on Georgia’s kratom battle and the plant will be legal for good. HB783 failed and HB551 succeeded, meaning instead of prohibition, the Peach State has a more assured legal kratom situation than much of the U.S.
That is not to say the current scenario is kratom legalization in its final form. State lawmakers may try refining the KCPA in the future. We saw an attempt - albeit unsuccessful - to amend the Arizona KCPA in 2021.
Kratom’s Federal Future
Of course, the federal government may have more to say on kratom. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) explored making the plant a Schedule 1 controlled substance a few years ago. Some fear the agency could come again for kratom, although it has not done so yet.
In theory, a federal kratom ban could thwart the industry in Georgia. That said, another attempt to make kratom federally illegal would undoubtedly be met with firm pushback - much like the first!
Where to Buy Kratom Products in Georgia?
Perhaps you are in Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, or another Georgian city right now and want to acquire some kratom. The good news is that you can get your hands on some pretty impressive stuff! The Georgia KCPA has made sure of that.
And kratom is relatively easy to find at brick-and-mortar stores in Georgia. The problem is that it tends to be crazy expensive. I have seen some eye-popping prices at gas stations on my travels, with kratom products often twice or three times the price I would expect to see online.
Sure, kratom prices vary depending on the store. But unlike only-online vendors, all physical retailers have a store to maintain, energy bills to stump up, and likely multiple staff to pay. And inevitably, some - if not all - of those costs ultimately get passed onto the buyer.
However, while I prefer the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of buying kratom online, physical vendors are not without their place. Maybe you need kratom ASAP and don’t want to wait for your order to ship. If so, here are three kratom vendors in Georgia you could check out.
