Is kratom legal in Vermont?
Direct answer
Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are controlled substances in Vermont, making kratom effectively banned.
Status
Illegal
Age requirement
No state rule
KCPA status
No KCPA
Last reviewed
2026-04-19
Penalties
Possession
Vermont regulates mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine as "regulated drugs." Possession penalties scale with quantity; small-amount possession is typically a misdemeanor under Vermont's general regulated-drug framework.
Sale / distribution
Sale or distribution penalties are more severe than possession, including felony exposure for larger quantities.
How Vermont got here
Vermont added kratom alkaloids to its "regulated drugs" list in 2016 via the Vermont Department of Health. The scheduling was administrative rather than legislative. Vermont's regulated-drug framework differs from the federal controlled-substance schedule, but the practical effect is similar: kratom sale and possession are illegal.
What you can do
Do not purchase or possess kratom in Vermont. Legal alternatives include kava (no state regulation).
Pending legislation
Active bills
No active bill or rulemaking petition as of April 2026.
Traveling through Vermont
I-89, I-91, and I-93 all pass through VT. Transit with kratom is risky; consider routing through NY (legal) instead.
Enforcement patterns
Low enforcement volume. Most encounters are at retail level rather than individual possession.
Frequently asked — Vermont
Can I have kratom shipped to Vermont? +
No — reputable vendors block VT shipping addresses at checkout. Vendors that do ship to banned states are operating outside the AKA-GMP framework and carry significant reputational and quality risk.
What are the penalties for kratom possession in Vermont? +
Penalties vary by offense quantity and prior record. Consult an attorney if you are facing charges. As a baseline, most banned states treat kratom as a Schedule I or equivalent controlled substance with felony exposure.
Is kava legal in Vermont? +
Yes — kava (Piper methysticum) is federally legal and not scheduled in any US state. It is pharmacologically unrelated to kratom but is often mentioned as an alternative for relaxation-oriented use.
Will Vermont repeal its kratom ban? +
The American Kratom Association actively lobbies every state legislature for repeal or KCPA-style regulation. No banned state has yet repealed, but several have active bills.
Neighboring states
Related
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