Kratom is not legal in Connecticut. As of February 24, 2026, the Department of Consumer Protection has classified kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), including its leaves, stems, and all extracts, along with 7-hydroxymitragynine, as Schedule 1 controlled substances after a unanimous vote by the Legislative Regulation Review Committee.1CT.gov. Department of Consumer Protection Applauds Passage of Controlled Substance Drug Schedule Updates Possessing, selling, or distributing kratom in any form now carries criminal penalties. Connecticut is the seventh state to take this step, joining Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, and Rhode Island among others.
The underlying authority came from Public Act 25-101, signed on June 24, 2025, which expanded the DCP Commissioner’s power to designate new controlled substances by regulation and specifically directed the scheduling of kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine.2Connecticut General Assembly. Substitute House Bill No 6855 – Public Act No 25-101 When the schedule took effect, the DCP told business owners to pull all kratom products from their shelves.3Department of Consumer Protection. Kratom Update October 2025
Penalties for Having Kratom
Kratom produces both stimulant and sedative effects, which places it in the depressant/stimulant category within Schedule 1. Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 21a-279(c), simple possession carries:4Department of Consumer Protection. Controlled Drug Schedules, Violations and Penalties
- First offense: up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
- Any later offense: a Class D felony carrying up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Any amount counts, and any form counts: powder, capsules, extracts, or dried leaf. The step up from a misdemeanor-level first offense to a felony on a second arrest applies even if years separate the two incidents.
Penalties for Selling Kratom
Sale and distribution penalties are much steeper. Under Section 21a-277(b), selling a controlled substance that is not a narcotic or hallucinogen is a felony from the first offense:4Department of Consumer Protection. Controlled Drug Schedules, Violations and Penalties
- First offense: up to 7 years in prison, a fine of up to $25,000, or both.
- Any later offense: up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.
This reaches smoke shops, gas stations, online vendors shipping into Connecticut, and individuals selling informally. The DCP’s instruction to businesses was to remove all kratom products immediately.1CT.gov. Department of Consumer Protection Applauds Passage of Controlled Substance Drug Schedule Updates
Driving With Kratom in Your System
Connecticut’s DUI statute, Section 14-227a, covers impairment from any drug. There is no specific blood concentration threshold for kratom; what matters is whether the substance affected your ability to drive safely.5CT.gov. Driving Under the Influence – Laws and Penalties A first conviction carries a fine between $500 and $1,000 plus up to six months in jail with 48 hours that cannot be suspended, though a court may order 100 hours of community service in lieu of the mandatory jail time.6Justia Law. Connecticut General Statutes Sec 14-227a License suspension, ignition interlock, and mandatory substance abuse programs may follow. If an officer finds kratom during the stop, a separate possession charge can be added to the DUI.
Bringing Kratom Across State Lines
Connecticut borders New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. As of early 2025, New York and Massachusetts had no state-level restrictions on kratom. Rhode Island classified kratom-related substances as Schedule 1 back in 2017.7Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association. Kratom – Summary of State Laws Driving between Connecticut and Rhode Island with kratom exposes you to charges in both states, and crossing from New York or Massachusetts into Connecticut turns a legally purchased product into contraband the moment you cross the line.
Air travel adds another wrinkle. The TSA has no explicit kratom policy and leaves the call to individual screening officers, who can refer travelers to AskTSA for items not in the agency’s database.8Transportation Security Administration – TSA.gov. What Can I Bring? Even if your destination allows kratom, carrying it to a Connecticut airport still violates Connecticut law.
Federal Law Versus Connecticut Law
Kratom remains legal under federal law. The DEA has not scheduled it, though it lists kratom as a “Drug and Chemical of Concern.”9United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Kratom The FDA has not approved kratom for any medical use, warns consumers about risks including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder, and treats kratom-containing dietary supplements as adulterated under federal food safety law.10U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA and Kratom In July 2025, the FDA recommended scheduling certain 7-hydroxymitragynine products under the Controlled Substances Act.11U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Seizes 7-OH Opioids to Protect American Consumers
Federal law does not preempt Connecticut’s scheduling decision. Inside Connecticut, the state ban controls, regardless of where the product was bought.
Could the Ban Be Lifted?
The same law that authorized the DCP to schedule kratom also lets the agency reschedule it if new research shows a legitimate medical use.1CT.gov. Department of Consumer Protection Applauds Passage of Controlled Substance Drug Schedule Updates Until that happens, kratom in any form is illegal to possess, sell, or distribute anywhere in Connecticut.