As of February 2018, kratom is legal to possess, sell, and distribute for individuals over 18 years of age in the state of North Carolina. Kratom has passed its legality tests in the state, having been amended to an age-18 restriction instead of prohibition in the state. North Carolina remains one of the strongest states in terms of advocacy for kratom in the United States, having mustered overwhelming support for kratom after a potential ban was announced.
Senate Bill 830, or S830, is the only legislation pertaining to kratom that has been enacted in North Carolina. The bill, drafted in 2016, intended to add kratom to the state’s list of controlled substances along with other substances. The bill was amended after numerous petitions from kratom support groups reached the desks of its sponsors. Rather than ban mitragyna outright, they decided to limit its legality to individuals over age 18. This was considered a victory by kratom advocates in the state, who had been receptive of an age restriction even before it was proposed.
Questions raised by the legality discussion about kratom in North Carolina has led state officials to study the plant. As no news has arisen about kratom since the bill passed without it, it can be assumed these tests are either still underway, or have been swept under the table for what they felt were more pressing issues. The results of these tests could decide whether kratom comes under scrutiny in the future, but since the bill was a year and a half ago, it is unlikely researchers found anything troubling during their tests.
Kratom is commonly found in smoke shops around the country. In fact, there are many smoke shops in North Carolina that carry kratom. Smoke shop kratom is typically expensive and the quality can be very hit or miss. Anyone interested in purchasing kratom in North Carolina should consider purchasing their kratom from a reputable online vendor. In general, kratom online is less expensive and of higher quality compared to smoke shop kratom. We also feel it is very important for the image of this product and anyone interested in keeping this product legal to stay away from purchasing kratom in smoke shops. In smoke shops, kratom is often sold alongside products that are considered “legal highs” or synthetic psychoactive substances. It is important that kratom is marketed and sold in a responsible manner and in a manner that will cast kratom in a positive light in the community.