Is Kratom Legal in Oregon: Legal Statewide

The West Coast state of Oregon is known for its open-minded position toward drugs. But does that same attitude apply to kratom? In this post, we will answer, “Is kratom legal in Oregon?”

Great news! As of 2023, kratom is legal in Oregon. While kratom’s legality in the Beaver State has been threatened on multiple occasions, the plant is holding firm. If you want to discover more about why kratom is legal and what has been happening in Oregon, keep reading.

I am a self-confessed kratom lover who is intrigued with how lawmakers approach the substance. And as a fan of the great outdoors, I spend a fair amount of time in Oregon. So, when it comes to kratom in Oregon, I have a solid knowledge of what is going on.

Kratom is not a controlled substance in Oregon - and neither are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, two vital kratom alkaloids. Therefore, it is legal to manufacture, sell, possess, buy, and use kratom in the state.

Kratom is permitted throughout Oregon. Some states have a complex legal landscape, with some counties and cities enforcing bans. But that is not the case here, which makes matters easier for everyone.

Currently, Oregon has an unregulated kratom market. While multiple states have enacted the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), the Beaver State balked at the idea. No regulation means that customers must take more care in ensuring the kratom they buy is genuine.

Plenty has gone down in Oregon since kratom first hit the headlines. The state has seen ban attempts, product purity issues, and a failed bid to pass the KCPA.

In January 2017, a bill was introduced into the Oregon State Senate calling for research into the Mitragyna Speciosa plant (kratom) by the state’s Board of Pharmacy.

Had Oregon Senate Bill 518 (OR SB518) passed, the Pharmacy would have reached a conclusion on whether kratom and its derivatives should be scheduled as a controlled substance. While not a direct bill to ban kratom, OR SB518 could have been bad news.

Ultimately, the bill failed in the committee upon adjournment. Kratom lived to fight another day in Oregon. But there was more controversy to come. 

Kratom has been plagued by contamination and impurity problems in the Beaver State. Notably, in early 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked a salmonella outbreak to vendors selling kratom products in Oregon.

It was serious stuff, and Oregon health officials warned people not to use kratom during the outbreak. For whatever reason, the state was hit harder than most, with 13 cases linked to kratom out of almost 200 throughout the U.S.

Thankfully, there was no knee-jerk reaction to try and make kratom illegal. But the incident ensured the plant remained on the legal radar. 

It is no surprise that Oregon has tried regulating kratom since, with House Bill 4013 (OR HB4013) one attempt to do so. The House of Representatives passed the legislation, which would have enforced labeling requirements and limited the sale of products to those 21 and over.

The bill looked likely to pass for some time before failing in the Oregon Senate Committee, which voted not to approve OR HB4013.

In 2021, the Oregon House and Senate approved House Bill 2646 (OR HB2646), also known as the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). This would have brought widespread regulation to the state’s kratom industry, much like we have seen in Arizona and elsewhere.

But Governor Kate Brown (D) chose to veto the bill. Her reasoning? She thinks the federal Food and Drug Administration is better placed to regulate kratom than states.

However, the Oregon Legislature has approved House Bill 4010 (OR HB4010), a bill requiring processors of kratom or kratom products to register with the state’s Department of Revenue.

Described as Oregon’s KCPA, HB4010 will become law from July 1, 2023. 

It’s been a long and windy road but kratom is slowly on its way to proper regulation in Oregon. It is a shame the more comprehensive KCPA was vetoed. But it is encouraging that regulation is under consideration.

We can expect kratom to remain legal in Oregon. However, if evidence emerges that does not reflect well on the plant, state legislators may yet try to ban it again.

The federal government’s kratom stance is of massive interest to consumers across the U.S., including in Oregon. The DEA is not currently planning on making kratom a controlled substance. But it has previously explored doing so.

However, Oregon could follow if the federal government were to ban kratom - especially given the previous comments by the state’s governor.

Click here to learn more about the federal government’s take on kratom. 

With kratom legal throughout Oregon, accessing products is relatively easy whether you are in Portland, Salem, Eugene, or someplace else! But the impending KCPA may reduce the number of kratom vendors in the state. We will have to wait and see.

Brick-and-mortar stores are ideal if you want kratom immediately. But you must invariably accept much higher prices than if buying products online. Moreover, some physical vendors (i.e., gas stations and head shops) are notorious for selling low-quality, untested kratom.

I recommend buying kratom from a specialist vendor, whether shopping online or at a brick-and-mortar store. These places tend to approach third-party testing more rigorously!

Are you searching for physical kratom vendors in Oregon? You could consider one of these two.

Jaya Kratom - Specialty Kratom Dispensary

3959 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

Clean Kratom Portland

3029 SE Division St Suite B, Portland, OR 97202

While there have been shenanigans in Oregon, kratom remains legal in the Beaver State. With lawmakers open to KCPA-style regulation, I am optimistic that the market will improve and that consumers will be more protected in the months and years ahead.