Arkansas Senate Passes Bill to Legalize Kratom, Establish Consumer Protections

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Senate has approved a bill to legalize kratom, a plant-derived substance with stimulant and painkilling properties. Senate Bill 534, sponsored by Sen. Greg Leding (D-Fayetteville), seeks to remove kratom from the state’s list of controlled substances and allow its sale to adults. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

Arkansas is one of only a few states where kratom possession is criminalized, classifying it as a Schedule I substance, similar to heroin and cocaine. This has led to severe penalties for individuals, even when the substance was legally purchased in neighboring states.

The “Arkansas Kratom Consumer Protection Act” aims to establish regulations to protect consumers, mirroring actions taken by other states. These protections include third-party lab testing, registration with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, and potency limits. Synthetically derived kratom products would be prohibited under the bill. Violators could face fines up to $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations.

You can read more about the bill and its potential impact on the bill to legalize kratom here.