Yes, kratom is illegal in Indiana. The state added kratom’s two active alkaloids — mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine — to its controlled substances list in 2014, and both sit on Schedule I alongside heroin and LSD. Possession is a Class A misdemeanor, selling is a felony, and no medical exception exists.
What the Ban Actually Covers
Indiana’s controlled substance law defines kratom’s two naturally occurring alkaloids as “synthetic drugs” under the Indiana Code, which automatically places them on Schedule I.1Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-31.5-2-321 – Synthetic Drug The label is a legal fiction — these compounds occur naturally in the kratom leaf — but the statutory definition is broad enough to capture them anyway.
The classification arrived through Senate Bill 305 in 2014. Because every synthetic drug on that list is automatically Schedule I, every form of kratom is prohibited statewide: raw leaves, powder, capsules, extracts, and beverages. There is no medical exception, no prescription pathway, and no legal amount.
Penalties for Possession
Possessing any amount of kratom in Indiana is a Class A misdemeanor.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-48-4-7 – Possession of a Controlled Substance or Controlled Substance Analog That carries up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.3Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-50-3-2 – Class A Misdemeanor Since kratom has no approved medical use, no valid prescription defense exists.
The charge jumps to a Level 6 felony when an “enhancing circumstance” applies. The most common one is possessing the substance within 500 feet of a school or park where children are reasonably expected to be present. A Level 6 felony carries six months to two and a half years in prison, plus a fine of up to $10,000.4Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-50-2-7 – Level 6 Felony Someone who bought kratom legally in another state and happens to pass through an Indiana school zone with it can face that felony exposure.
Penalties for Selling or Distributing
Selling, delivering, or manufacturing kratom falls under Indiana’s dealing statute for Schedule I substances. The base offense is a Level 6 felony, and charges escalate by weight:5Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-48-4-2 – Dealing in a Schedule I, II, or III Controlled Substance or Controlled Substance Analog
- Less than 1 gram: Level 6 felony, 6 months to 2.5 years
- 1 to under 5 grams: Level 5 felony, 1 to 6 years6Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-50-2-6 – Level 5 Felony
- 5 to under 10 grams: Level 4 felony, 2 to 12 years
- 10 to under 28 grams: Level 3 felony, 3 to 16 years
- 28 grams or more: Level 2 felony, 10 to 30 years7Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-50-2-4.5 – Level 2 Felony
Each tier climbs one level higher when an enhancing circumstance applies. The weight thresholds hit harder with kratom than with most controlled substances because users measure typical doses in grams. A single ordinary bag of kratom powder can weigh 28 grams or more, which puts it at the Level 2 felony ceiling on the dealing chart. Prosecutors don’t need proof of a completed sale — possession of 28 or more grams with other evidence of intent to distribute is enough.5Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 35-48-4-2 – Dealing in a Schedule I, II, or III Controlled Substance or Controlled Substance Analog
Consequences Beyond the Criminal Case
A kratom conviction reaches past the courtroom. Indiana law requires licensing boards to revoke or suspend any professional license held by someone convicted of dealing a Schedule I substance.8Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 25-1-1.1-3 – Suspension or Revocation of License or Certificate That reaches nurses, teachers, pharmacists, real estate agents, and dozens of other regulated fields. The statute uses “shall,” not “may” — the board has no discretion. A conviction for selling even a small amount qualifies as dealing.
Because kratom is Schedule I in Indiana, a positive drug test for mitragynine also puts a job at risk. Indiana is an at-will employment state, and employers whose testing panels include Schedule I substances can terminate workers who test positive. A conviction also produces a record that follows you through background checks, which can affect housing, loans, and custody.
Bringing Kratom In From Another State
This is where people get caught. Kratom is legal in every state that borders Indiana. You can buy it at a gas station in Louisville and be exposed to a criminal charge thirty minutes later when you cross into southern Indiana. The law does not care where you bought it or whether it was legal there. Possession on Indiana soil is the offense.
Ordering online carries the same risk. The package can be seized, and accepting delivery of a Schedule I substance can support a possession charge. If the quantity is large, law enforcement can push for dealing charges on the weight alone. Vendors shipping from states where kratom is legal are not insulated either — shipping a Schedule I substance into Indiana can be treated as delivery under the dealing statute.
How Neighboring States Handle Kratom
Indiana is the outlier. The contrast catches travelers and new residents off guard:
- Kentucky: legal, with a minimum purchase age of 21 and product standards.
- Illinois: legal, with a minimum purchase age of 18.
- Ohio: legal, with no state-level restrictions on sale or possession.
- Michigan: legal, with no state-level restrictions on sale or possession.
Several of these states have adopted versions of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, a model bill that sets purity standards, labeling requirements, and age minimums instead of a ban. Indiana legislators have proposed similar frameworks. None have passed.
Federal Law Doesn’t Help You Here
Kratom is not a federally controlled substance. The DEA has never placed it on the federal schedule. The FDA has not approved kratom for any medical use and has issued import alerts allowing customs to detain shipments, but possessing kratom does not violate federal law as of 2026.
None of that changes anything in Indiana. The state ban runs independently of federal law, and Indiana already controls both alkaloids at the state level. The federal status matters only as an explanation for why kratom remains widely available in surrounding states — no federal prohibition stops it.
Is the Law About to Change?
Advocates have pushed to legalize and regulate kratom in Indiana more than once, and the bills keep dying in committee. The most recent attempt was House Bill 1542 in the 2025 session. It would have required sellers to register with the Indiana Department of Agriculture, imposed content restrictions on kratom products, mandated laboratory testing, set a minimum purchase age of 21, and created a dedicated enforcement fund. It died in the Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development Committee without a floor vote.
No comparable bill has been introduced in the 2026 session as of this writing. Individual legislators keep bringing proposals that mirror frameworks working in other states, but none have picked up enough committee support to advance. Until one does, the full ban stays in effect, and anyone facing a kratom charge in Indiana should talk to a criminal defense attorney — the penalty structure is layered, and the gap between a misdemeanor and a multi-year felony can turn on weight and location.