Kratom is legal but unregulated in most places in Mississippi. The downside is that, with few existing laws on the books, it creates a space for bad actors who distribute dangerous, adulterated forms of kratom to retailers. You won’t find anything remotely like this when ordering your kratom from MIT45.
Is Kratom Legal in Mississippi in 2024?
Know the Relevant State and Local Laws
More to this point, the state is something of the poster child for what happens when dangerous products are allowed to be part of the local kratom market: Inevitably, there’s a public backlash. In Mississippi, there are now approximately 12 counties and 28 cities where kratom is banned outright.
Learn more about the current status of Mississippi kratom laws, as well as the state’s recent history and future outlook for kratom industry regulations.
Kratom’s Legal Status in Mississippi
While most states are moving in the opposite direction, Mississippi is one of the only states that has made a serious, recent push to ban kratom. In 2023, the state House of Representatives passed a law banning kratom in the state, which then died in committee in the State Senate. Still, there is no guarantee a new push won’t be made in the current session (more on that in a minute).
Fueled by isolated and misleading news reports about kratom-related overdose deaths, many communities in the state have latched on to the idea that virtually any substance with any potential for abuse should be outlawed. Well, except for maybe the daily dose of coffee.
Counties Where Kratom is Banned
It’s worth explaining for those who aren’t intimately familiar with Mississippi’s political geography that essentially all of these counties and cities are in the northeast quadrant of the state.
The good news is that Lee County and Tupelo are an exception to this rule, for those who want to enjoy kratom legally in this part of the state. In fact, if you’re tucked into the far corner near Corinth, your best bet is to visit the smoke shops across the border in Selmer, TN.
- Alcorn
- Calhoun
- Itawamba
- Lafayette
- Lowndes
- Monroe
- Noxubee
- Prentiss
- Tippah
- Tishomingo
- Union
Cities Where Kratom is Banned
- Belmont
- Blue Mountain
- Booneville
- Bruce
- Burnsville
- Caledonia
- Calhoun
- Columbus
- Corinth
- Derma
- Fulton
- Guntown
- Luka
- Mantachie
- Marietta
- New Albany
- Okolona
- Oxford
- Pontotoc
- Ripley
- Saltillo
- Senatobia
- Tishomingo
- Vardaman
The Future of Kratom Regulation in Mississippi
Nobody really knows for sure what will happen, but the latest development was the introduction of the Mississippi Kratom Consumer Protection Act by Senator Daniel H. Sparks (R). It’s unclear how much potential support this bill has, as it quickly died in committee as well.
It’s also worth pointing out that this legislation wouldn’t have affected local bans. The American Kratom Association and a large swath of state constituents may eventually be successful in convincing the state to pass a KCPA law. Yet, it’s going to take a larger cultural shift and/or very local grassroot movements to change the necessary minds in these city and county jurisdictions.
So, while the future of kratom is incredibly uncertain in Mississippi, the state also demonstrates how much people on both sides of the issue agree on the ultimate objectives: First and foremost, make sure truly dangerous products aren’t available to the public, especially in an over-the-counter setting. Secondly, provide safe access to those people who find that kratom offers life-changing benefits.
Want to Be a Kratom Advocate?
Maybe you’re one of those individuals for whom kratom has made a huge difference to your quality of life. Maybe you know someone for whom this is true. Maybe you just want to stand up and be counted as an ally of responsible kratom users. You can monitor the state legislature for public hearings as well as online forums like this one from the recently defeated bill.
You can also be a voice for kratom as part of the national discourse and the sustained push to pass federal kratom consumer protection legislation. It’s relatively easy to find your federal representatives, but we recommend the even easier path of sharing your story or thoughts with this petition organized by the American Kratom Association.
Got a Legal or Public Health Question?
Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to find any information about kratom through state government websites. We’ve found important kratom news and notifications from other states’ Boards of Pharmacy, Departments of Health, and Attorneys General office. Which is unfortunate for Mississippi residents and already speaks to things the state could do to improve product and consumer safety in the state.
If you know where to look, you can find isolated mentions of kratom in the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Strategic Plan.
Where to Buy Kratom in Mississippi Legally
More good news: If you live in or near one of the state’s population centers—or most anywhere in the southern half of the state—you’re going to have a pretty easy time. You don’t even have to call around to local smoke shops if you don’t want to.
You’ll find kratom, including MIT45 products, in most smoke shops. Even still, many people take advantage of buying online. There are just too many benefits. You don’t have to deal with the drive, limited inventory, or creepy store clerks. Even if the prices are roughly the same, you’re going to save considerable time and headaches.
Maybe you still want to see what’s available, or you’re curious if there’s an actual kava/kratom bar in your area. Looking for specific recommendations for the best local stores? Use our city-by-city guide including opportunities to make new friends by finding like-minded kratom fans in your community.
More Buying and Consumer Safety Tips
If you do live somewhere that’s banned kratom, you’re going to need to get creative. For one thing, you can’t buy online, or at least you shouldn’t. MIT45 doesn’t sell or ship products any place where kratom is illegal. Nor does any responsible kratom manufacturer.
Making sure you’re buying kratom legally is itself a solid, first step in researching quality kratom manufacturers. And this is crucial. Most every kratom-related death you hear in the news comes from adulterated kratom sold by bad actors within the industry. Again, this is a huge reason we need more kratom consumer protection laws!
You can even use your address and our online checkout as a way of verifying kratom’s legality at your location.
Know the Local Laws to Mitigate Your Risk
So, if you do live some place where kratom is banned, you’re going to need to drive to another town or county. If you want to be extra discreet—if you’re worried about being spotted buying kratom in a smoke or head shop for example—think about whether you have a friend or family member who lives in a neighboring city or county where kratom is legal.
Then, just get your kratom order shipped to their address, although you’ll need to check with the authorities in your local jurisdiction. The city council or county sheriff’s office should be able to quickly give you the scoop. To stay 100% legal, you may need to have your personal contact place the order and you may not be allowed to bring the kratom home with you.
Drug Testing, Employment Policies, and Cultural Values
A lot of kratom users in Mississippi want to know if their employer tests for kratom use—or if that’s even a possibility. The short answer is that yes, theoretically, some drug tests can detect kratom, but not the standard 5- and 10-panel drug tests that are used by most companies.
That said, given the legal and cultural landscape in Mississippi, you probably have a somewhat larger chance of running into the rare company that does test for kratom. Hopefully, they at least inform their employees about this policy. Moreover, even if you do live in a place where kratom is legal, your employer can fire you for any reason or no reason at all, so long as the reason isn’t specifically protected as discriminatory.
Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the story, either. While kratom is not a traditional opiate, the opiate drug panel can sometimes return a false positive due to the presence of kratom. So, if you don’t think your employer cares about kratom, there’s actually an incentive to be honest about it.
Better kratom education is crucial for individual consumers, business leaders, and policymakers alike.
