As Kratom Sales Begin in Rhode Island, Lawmakers Eye Locked Cases

Starting April 1, Rhode Island will permit the sale of kratom under the Rhode Island Kratom Act, which restricts purchases to adults 21 and over and requires that products stay behind the counter under employee supervision. The legalization hasn’t ended debate; it has simply shifted the focus to how tightly stores must control access. A new proposal, H7518, seeks to move kratom into locked cases that only staff can open, adding another layer of security against theft or underage misuse. Supporters argue that a small number of overdose deaths linked to kratom in recent years justifies extra precautions, while other states have opted for harsher steps such as bans and Schedule 1 status. The original coverage of Rhode Island’s evolving kratom policy appeared in USA Today.