Is Kratom Legal in Montana? [2023 Update]

Kratom has become crucial for many Americans over the past decade or so. However, while Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) and its alkaloids are legal at the federal level, this is not the case in every U.S. state. But is kratom legal in Montana?

Absolutely! Kratom is legal in Montana. The Big Sky Country does not limit kratom access in any way, nor has it passed the increasingly popular Kratom Consumer Protection Act. Montana’s hands-off approach is typical of a state that allows its citizens to live freely!

Welcome to this Kratom Monkey guide to kratom law in Montana. I want to talk about what makes the plant legal in this western state and whether the situation could change.

Montana has no legislation restricting the manufacture, sale, purchase, possession, or usage of kratom. It is not a controlled substance and does not feature anywhere in state law.

Better still, kratom is legal everywhere, from Billings to Bozeman! No cities, towns, or villages have moved to criminalize the plant, keeping matters simple for Montana’s kratom users.

And don’t panic if you live near a state border. Kratom is legal in Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Feel free to travel with your kratom between Montana and these neighboring states.

I took a lengthy browse through the Montana Legislature, but I could not find any kratom-related bills. The state is something of an outlier in that respect. Most states have a lawmaker or two that has attempted to get some legislation passed over the years.

But I am not complaining. As banned states like Arkansas and Wisconsin show, kratom is often misunderstood among lawmakers. Once the plant comes onto the radar, there is a risk of it being misrepresented as a hallucinogen, opiate, or designer drug.

Kratom has kept a low profile in Montana, allowing people to enjoy products in peace. Even so, I am sure the community does not take the situation for granted. If the state ever tries making kratom a controlled substance, you can bet any bills would be met with stern resistance.

That said, there is one legislative change that even kratom users would like to see! The existing unregulated market is far from perfect, creating complications for consumers and potential risk factors for the industry.

While Montana likes to keep big government out of the way, there are several possible benefits to regulating the state’s kratom market. What’s more, the proposed Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) has been drawn up by kratom supporters. So, the suggested policies make sense!

Passing the KCPA would bring several changes to kratom in Montana. These would likely include...

• Stopping minors (or under 21s) from purchasing kratom

• Banning contaminated kratom and products adulterated with non-kratom substances

• Banning synthetic alkaloids, including synthetic mitragynine and synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-HMG)

• Capping 7-HMG concentrations at 2% of the product’s alkaloid content

Bringing the KCPA legislation to Montana would help protect consumers from dangerous products. In 2018, the CDC reported a salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated kratom in 41 U.S. states. The kratom industry wants to avoid these nasty situations.

I expect kratom to remain legal in Montana for years to come. The state has no incentive to ban the substance and appears to have a complete lack of interest in it. And if the choice is between hands-off and overzealous kratom policy, I will happily take the former!

Ultimately, kratom has been around in Montana for several years now. If the state wanted to ban it, there has been more than enough time to try and pass legislation. Unless Montana has a severe kratom-related scandal, I think the current situation will continue.

Montanans should probably take more interest in what happens at the national level. We know kratom is on the federal government’s radar. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) might not have made it a Schedule I drug, but that does not mean it thinks fondly of kratom.

There is a non-zero chance of federal prohibition. However, national regulation could also be on the cards. The bipartisan Federal Clarity for Kratom Consumers Act was introduced to Congress in late 2022 and has the American Kratom Association’s support.

Learn more about the federal government’s thoughts on kratom here.

With no regulation in Montana, be sure to pick your kratom vendor wisely. If you prefer shopping in person, I recommend finding a trusted vendor that cares about third-party testing and sticking with them. Don’t take your chances with random retailers.

Montana is a massive state with a small population. Physical stores selling kratom exist, but accessing them could be difficult, depending on where you live. You might find it easier to buy kratom online, which I recommend for most people, anyway.

Compared to most brick-and-mortar stores, online shops have more kratom strains and product types. Products cost less, and genuine vendors provide third-party lab results, too.

But if you live in Montana and want to support a local business, you can buy kratom from these places in Bozeman, Missoula, and Ronan. 

Bozeman Kratom & Kava

216 N 7th Ave Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59715

Mellow Mood - Missoula

630 S Higgins Ave, Missoula, MT 59801

Botanical City

104 Main St SW, Ronan, MT 59864

The main story about kratom in Montana is that there isn’t much of a story! It is legal and unregulated, and the state government doesn’t seem to have any opinion whatsoever. At least that makes life easy for retailers and consumers.