Is Kratom Legal in Illinois in 2024?

The short answer is yes–depending on where you live and how old you are. You see, there are several towns in Illinois that have enacted their own local bans. The good news is that few, if any, residents have to travel more than one county over to find kratom available for sale. 

State-wide restrictions include a minimum age limit of 18 or older for both the sale and possession of kratom. In addition to banning kratom that’s adulterated with synthetic compounds, Illinois is also one of a growing handful of states with regulations that explicitly apply to both natural and synthetic kratom. 

History of Kratom Legislation in Illinois

In 2018, Illinois attempted to ban kratom sales statewide by introducing House Bill 4106.  This bill would have amended the Illinois Kratom Control Act that prohibits the sale of kratom products to those under the age of 18. House Bill 4106 initially stalled in the committee and eventually died.

Local Kratom Bans

Unlike other states where kratom is either legal, banned, or has restrictions statewide, Illinois is a bit different. Not only do several local municipalities ban kratom, some have just recently passed and enacted these bans. Expect to travel elsewhere in the state if you live in the following areas. 

While it is legal to purchase to those over 18, there are a few municipalities that have imposed a ban on kratom sales. Those municipalities include:

• NEW! Tinley Park: On June 18th, 2024, Tinley Park passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale, distribution and use of kratom, but granted a 12-month amnesty period for businesses primarily profiting from kratom sales, and a six-month period for those selling it as an accessory.
• NEW! Des Plaines: On June 3rd, 2024, a divided Des Plaines City Council voted 6-2 to outlaw the sale of products made from the kratom tree.
• NEW! Orland Park – On April 19, 2024, the Orland Park Village Board unanimously voted to ban kratom, tianeptine, and novel synthetic and psychoactive drugs.
• Jerseyville – The City Council in 2017 passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale and possession of kratom within city limits.
• Alton – Shortly after Jerseyville banned the sale and possession of kratom, the town of Alton followed suit, imposing their ban on the product in 2018.
• Glen Carbon – In 2019, the town of Glen Carbon followed suit and banned the sale of kratom.
• Edwardsville – As of 2019, kratom sales are forbidden in Edwardsville.
• Antioch – This town banned the sale of kratom products for businesses with a liquor or tobacco license.

Want Proof Kratom is Legal in Illinois? Order MIT45 Products Now! 

As much as we care about our customers, we’re not about to get shut down trying to serve people for whom it would be illegal to ship products. Put your address into an online order form, and voila! Check out our wide assortment of kratom products including: 

• Liquid Shots and Gels 
• Tasty Gummies 
• Extract Strength Capsules 
• Red, Green, and White Raw Leaf Powder (from Golden Monk)

Check with Relevant Illinois State Agencies 

Unlike some other states, we couldn’t easily find any relevant kratom information through the Illinois Attorney General’s or Board or Pharmacy websites. However, for those who want to be extra safe, we do recommend checking with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). This state agency does post important public health alerts as when there was a Salmonella outbreak linked to kratom products back in 2018. 

Illinois Department of Public Health

CONTACT PAGE

• IDPH Springfield Headquarters Office
  525-535 West Jefferson Street
  Springfield, IL  62761
  217-782-4977

 

• IDPH Chicago Headquarters Offices
  122 S. Michigan Avenue, 7th and 20th Floors
  Chicago, IL  60603
  312-814-2793

 

• 69 W. Washington Street, 35th Floor
  Chicago, IL 60602
  312-814-5278

Kratom’s Legal Status from State to State

FAQs About Kratom

What Is Kratom? Where Does It Come From?

Mitragyna speciosa, more commonly known as kratom, comes from the tropical evergreen tree that grows in Southeast Asia in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. For centuries, indigenous people used its leaves during ceremonies due to its many different properties. The leaves were typically chewed or dried and ground into a fine powder to be brewed as tea. Now gaining popularity in the West, kratom is used to brew teas, added to smoothies, or taken in capsules, gels, or as gummies.

Can You Detect Kratom in a Drug Test?

Yes, there are tests that can detect kratom, but they are rarely used as part of the standard drug-panel that most employers use for employee screening. In fact, a bigger risk may be kratom returning a rare false positive for opiates. If you live someplace where kratom is legal and you think your employer won’t mind, you want me to disclose your personal kratom use.

How Is Kratom Made?

First, the tree’s leaves must be harvested. Depending on the strain, they may be young or mature. After the leaves have been picked, they need to be dried to remove moisture. This is typically done by drying the leaves in the sun or within modern processing facilities. The leaves are then ground into a fine powder and packaged for distribution.

MIT45 only offers Kratom products that are tested for identification, heavy metals content ([AOAC 2013.06] Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury), and microbial safety (Aerobic Plate Count [AOAC 990.12], Yeast and Mold [AOAC 997.02], Coliforms and E. Coli [AOAC 991.4], and Salmonella [AOAC-RI 050701]). Only products that pass these tests are made available to order.

Citations

Legislative Information System. (720 ILCS 642/) Kratom Control Act. Illinois Compiled Statutes.

Illinois General Assembly. “Bill Status of HB4106.” Ilga.gov. Published January 2019.

Karunakara, Thiruventhan, et al. “The Chemical and Pharmacological Properties of Mitragynine and Its Diastereomers: An Insight Review.” NIH.gov. Published February 2022.

Heflin, Jason. “Kratom Regulation: Federal Status and State Approaches.” crsreports.congress.gov. Published Nov 2023.

Staff writer. Kratom: Summary of State Laws. “Legislative Analysis and Public Policy.” Published December 2022.

References

Gianutsos PhD, JD, Gerald. “The DEA Changes Its Mind on Kratom.” USpharmasist.com. Published March 2017.