Welcome to “Is Kratom Legal in Tennessee?”, our final blog in our series of kratom-legality-themed posts.
Tennessee, home of the epicenter of country music (Nashville) and “The King” Elvis Presley himself, the state is certainly a major attraction for those visiting the United States. Also home to the Great Smoky Mountains and the country’s largest underground lake (The Lost Sea), Tennessee has always been heavily associated with nature.
So how friendly is The Volunteer State when it comes to our favorite natural herb- Mitragyna speciosa – better known as kratom tea? With lack of federal regulation, each state is responsible for determining their own respective kratom laws. So, if you’re visiting the state, you might be wondering yourself: “Is kratom legal in Tennessee?”
We will get straight to the point for you. Yes, kratom is legal throughout the state of Tennessee. You can purchase kratom at various gas stations and smoke shops throughout the state. However, there are some stipulations to kratom’s legal status in Tennessee that you should be aware of.
Kratom Legality in Tennessee
As we previously mentioned, kratom is legal for sale, purchase, and possession in the state of Tennessee. However, there are some additional rules and regulations within the state pertaining to sale of the plant.
For starters, under Tennessee state law, kratom is only available for sale in its “natural botanical form”. Officially, the law reads “Tennessee prohibits the possession, sale, manufacture, and distribution of capsules, pills,and other products that contain a synthetic form of mitragynine or hydroxymitragynine.“
This means that kratom containing any synthetic form of the plant’s alkaloids will be considered a controlled substance, and will incur a fine or even jail time if convicted.
Initially, a kratom ban was on the books for Tennessee. Kratom fell under Tennessee’s list of controlled substances, making it illegal to sell or even possess. That was until December 2017, when the State Attorney General (correctly) ruled that the language in the ban was only applicable to synthetic kratom products. Kratom was back on the market the following year, and the decision remains in effect as of 2022.
There is one more small caveat to kratom’s legal status in 2022. Much like your first beer (right?), graduates will have to wait a few years to legally purchase kratom in the state of Tennessee. It is illegal to sell kratom to individuals under the age of 21.
Bummer, but the law is the law…and as far as kratom laws go – it’s one of the milder restrictions we’ve seen. (See “Is Kratom Legal in Arkansas?” here)
Why Regulate Kratom?
Now you may be asking yourself, “Why does Top Tree advocate so heavily for kratom regulation?” The answer here is simple.
While it’s true that we want everybody to have access to our tea, we want that access protected and ensured by making kratom safe and of the highest quality. Our kratom is 100% natural, independently lab-tested kratom. Unfortunately, this is not a standard requirement throughout the industry. Whenever there is a product to be sold, there will always be shady vendors looking to cut corners in search of a profit.
With regulations pertaining to kratom quality control and overall safety:
- Kratom is inherently safer. Kratom regulations like restriction of additives or synthetic kratom alkaloids significantly reduces the chance that kratom can be “tainted” with potentially harmful substances.
- Quality can be improved. With lab-testing, you can be sure what you are getting is actually pure Mitragyna speciosa. Alkaloid levels can also be put to the test in order to ensure a more consistent brew. These first two regulations also serve protect kratom’s reputation by distancing the plant from effects due to other – more nefarious – agents.
- Can enjoy protection under state law. Although kratom will surely still be under fire by long time opponents like the FDA, kratom can enjoy some sense of safety under the law via passage of a state regulatory bill like the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA).
Ultimately, the pros of kratom regulation benefit everybody in the kratom industry from consumer to vendor.
Currently, only 7 states have passed their own regulatory frameworks. These states (Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Oregon) have all passed their own version of the American Kratom Associations groundbreaking regulatory framework, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA).
By doing so, kratom has some form of legal protection in these respective states.
How Can I Help Keep Kratom Legal in Tennessee?
True, kratom remains legal throughout the state of Tennessee- as long as you’re 21 of course. However, this does not mean kratom is safe from an outright ban in future legislative sessions. Much like any legal ruling here in the United states, the decision is always subject to change.
The best way to help keep kratom legal in Tennessee is to get active! For starters, you can help kratom’s legal plight in the United States by staying up to date on kratom news, including upcoming bills and legislation. While we do regularly post kratom legality news, (humbly) your best resource is the American Kratom Association (AKA).
You can check their handy state-by-state map for current and future legal rulings on kratom in your state. Additionally, you can sign up on their site to become an American Kratom Protector. By doing so, you’ll receive kratom-related news in real time via email or text message.df
Finally, you can always stick with us here at The Better Brewing Blog! While we do post other kratom-related content, we always like to keep readers up to date with major kratom legal updates. You may even learn a thing or two about kratom as well!
However you choose to participate, the important thing is that you’re always learning and advocating. We’re a kratom company ourselves, and we find that there are always ways to improve our knowledge when it comes to kratom!
Why Kratom Tea Bags?
In relation to keeping kratom safe for consumption and free for everybody to enjoy, we have a suggestion…
At Top Tree, we’ve always maintained the fact that the best way to enjoy kratom is by brewing a hot cup of traditional kratom tea. For centuries, farmers in Southeast Asia consumed the Mitrgyna speciosa tea leaves as a “pick me up” in order to deal with the long hours and physical toll of their daily work.
Sometimes, the old ways really are best, and we’d like to return to these roots. In addition, kratom tea bags are an optimal way to enjoy kratom because:
- Consumers are able to measure their kratom consumption in a consistent manner, leading to a more consistent kratom experience.
- Kratom tea bags are easily brewed. Simply steep your tea bag in a hot cup of water for 10 minutes with some lemon juice and enjoy!
- Kratom tea bags are easier on the stomach. In contrast to the popular “toss and wash” method of consuming kratom, kratom tea bags eliminate the need to actually consume the raw kratom material itself to enjoy the benefits.
- In addition, one of the largest kratom studies ever conducted found that nearly 1 in 4 kratom users consumers reported either nausea or constipation. Admittedly, portion size certainly plays a role in this. However, we believe consumption of raw kratom leaf may have a bigger role in producing these side effects than kratom alkaloids do.
Sounds good right? We think so too.
If you think this sounds like solid reasoning for making the switch to kratom tea, head on over to our kratom tea shop! There, you can check our the wide variety of strains and infusions that are sure to accommodate even the pickiest kratom connoisseurs. (We have some pretty sweet deals too!)
Final Word
Thank you for tuning in to our latest edition of The Better Brewing Blog.
In review, yes kratom is legal throughout the state of Tennessee. However, kratom can only be sold in its pure natural form (from the Mitragyna speciosa plant). In addition, only individuals who are 21 and over are legally able to purchase kratom in the state.
Additionally, to keep kratom legal and safe in your state, a regulatory framework for the sale and distribution of kratom is ideal. Supporting organizations such as The American Kratom Association and other pro-kratom legislation groups is the best way to achieve this. Access to safe, all-natural kratom is the main goal after all!
Finally, we believe that the best way to enjoy kratom is via the traditional route – as an all natural kratom tea. Simply steep your favorite kratom tea bag in some hot water, add some lemon, and enjoy your brew without any additional mess! (Also, check out our complete brewing guide here!)
Well, it’s been fun but that’s all for “Is Kratom Legal in Tennessee?“. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions for upcoming posts, and as always…
Cheers to better brewing!
