Navigating Louisiana’s Kratom Laws: What’s New In 2023

Written by Wade Paul
Last Updated 9 months ago

Wade Paul

Founder & Editor-In-Chief

Wade Paul is the founder and editor-in-chief at Kratom.org.

Kratom naturally grows in Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries.

This herb, with its diverse therapeutic uses, helps improve people’s lives in different aspects. From anxiolytic effects to mild stimulation, kratom provides a broad range of beneficial effects.

However, its legality is a controversial issue, especially in Louisiana. In most of the USA, there’s no regulation affecting its use, though some states have outright banned it or regulate it through variations of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act.

But LA state lawmakers have been going back and forth on the issue for years.

Louisiana as a whole dodged a bullet recently — for now — but some parishes haven’t been so lucky.

Here’s what you need to know about Louisiana’s recent laws regarding kratom, where it’s banned, and what the future could hold.

Is Kratom Legal In Louisiana?

Kratom has a rocky history in Louisiana, and it is illegal in some parts of the state.

The most recent bill, SB94, was signed into law on June 26, 2023. This adds mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, kratom’s two main alkaloids, to the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, effective August 1, 2023.

The law states that no product with these ingredients can be sold to anyone under 21. It also says that the alkaloids will be scheduled according to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) scheduling, if it ever happens.

It also allows parishes to have more restrictive laws regarding kratom.

But, some individual parishes have already banned kratom. Ascension Parish became the first to outlaw it on August 18, 2022, with Chapter 11, Article 8, which bans the sale of kratom.

On October 10, 2022, Rapides Parish made it illegal to possess Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), according to Article I Section 19-22. The first offense is up to a $500 fine, six months in jail, or both.

On October 13, 2022, Grant Parish passed ordinances outlawing the sale and possession of kratom.

All of this follows a tumultuous history of attempted bans.

In 2014, the Louisiana government attempted to ban kratom for the first time. Bill LA HB19 aimed to place mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine on the list of controlled substances.

The bill died in committee that same year.

In 2015 lawmakers tried again. The same bill from the previous year, referred to as Bill HB174, returned to the Senate. This time, the bill passed, but lawmakers removed kratom’s alkaloids from the list of controlled substances, keeping it legal.

Finally, in 2020, Bill LA HB523 aimed to implement the Kratom Consumer Protection Act in Louisiana, a law meant to reduce the sale of adulterated and unsafe kratom.

The bill didn’t pass, and kratom remained unregulated in Louisiana.

Learn more about kratom laws in the United States.

Aerial closeup of the Louisiana State Capitol Building and welcome center in Baton Rouge
Louisiana State Capitol Building

Why Do Some Places Ban Kratom?

Despite the emerging evidence suggesting kratom is generally safe, many people still believe the myths and misinformation surrounding it. Even the World Health Organization looked over the available research in 2021 and decided kratom does not pose a risk to the public.

Fear over kratom stems from how it interacts with opioid receptors. While it is considered an atypical opioid, it is far less addictive, unlikely to cause an overdose, and the withdrawal is nowhere near as severe as regular opioids.

The deaths involving kratom almost always involved other drugs — usually opioids.

Kratom is safe to use for most people when it’s used responsibly. This means using as little as possible, taking breaks from it, and not mixing it with other substances due to possible drug interactions.

Kratom helps many people get their lives back, often by relieving severe pain and helping them break addictions. Outlawing kratom only leaves them with more dangerous options and makes things worse.

Related: Making Sense of Kratom Research

Where to Buy Kratom In Louisiana

Since kratom is still mostly unregulated, be especially cautious when buying it.

There are two ways to obtain kratom: online or in-store. Make sure you’re buying from a reliable and trustworthy vendor.

The odds are on your side when you buy online; the in-store method presents some disadvantages. This section compares these two options and explains why online is usually superior.

Buying Kratom Online

Buying kratom online is the most common method used by users around the USA. This is no coincidence since it provides you with advantages that physical stores can’t match.

First, there are fewer middlemen involved, meaning higher quality and a lower price.

In addition, the variety carried by online vendors is superior to in-store vendors. Physical stores rarely specialize in kratom. Instead, they place it alongside other products on the shelves. The lack of space and customer demand means the selection is minimal, and the chances are high that the staff can’t help you.

If you want discretion, there’s no comparison between receiving a package at your doorstep and physically entering a store.

Ultimately, all aspects of online shopping outperform the in-store options, and it boils down to one significant advantage: higher quality for less cost. The only disadvantage is time. Buying from a physical store is quicker, but many online stores have fast delivery, and Star Kratom is one of the fastest.

However, buying online is no guarantee of quality. We recommend using trusted vendors like Kona Kratom, VIP Kratom, and Star Kratom to avoid surprises.

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Buying Kratom In-Store

Just google “kratom near me,” and you’ll find a long list of stores selling kratom in your area.

Sometimes you need to buy locally despite knowing the risks that this entails; maybe you’re out of kratom or need a different strain.

Find Kratom Near You

Check out these Louisiana city guides for more information:

What to Look for When Buying Kratom

We wish that buying from any online store was a guarantee of quality kratom. However, because it’s federally unregulated, anyone can sell kratom in the United States. You’ll need to take a few extra precautions to find the right vendor.

This section focuses on things to watch out for when buying kratom.

Look for AKA Certification

In unregulated states — and even in regulated ones — the American Kratom Association (AKA) is your best friend.

This non-profit organization works to ensure kratom consumers have access to quality kratom.

Companies associated with the AKA go through a yearly audit. In these audits, a third-party laboratory tests the products of each affiliated vendor’s kratom for purity; if the products don’t meet the requirements, the supplier loses the AKA’s endorsement.

Company Reputation

When it comes to kratom, a company’s reputation is a crucial factor.

Performing a search on Google is the only tool users have to get an unbiased look at the different vendors and products on the market. Customer reviews can tell you a lot about a company’s ethics and the quality of its products.

This vendor reviews page narrows the search by giving reports on different kratom vendors.

Strain

The strain of kratom you choose is a huge factor in the effects you’ll get. There are many strains of kratom and significant differences in the impact each one produces.

For the sake of simplicity, the most common way to categorize kratom is by vein color. This is visible when the kratom is in leaf form but indistinguishable after it’s processed.

There are three vein colors that we find in kratom: red, green, and white.

Red Vein Kratom

Red vein kratom is the most sedative. This type usually has a high concentration of 7-hydroxymitragynine, an alkaloid that triggers sedative and euphoriant effects.

White Vein Kratom

On the other hand, white vein kratom gives nootropic effects and provides you with the energy and focus you need for the day.

MItragynine, the dominant alkaloid, interacts with opioid and serotonergic receptors, giving you feelings of euphoria and boosting concentration and creativity.

Green Vein Kratom

Finally, green vein kratom provides the most balanced effects. These strains don’t show a clear dominance of any alkaloid. However, it’s essential to note that some green strains are more stimulating, others more sedative. Therefore, read product descriptions and follow suggested doses. You may have to try a few until you find the right one.

What Are People Using Kratom for?

More and more uses for kratom are coming to light, and this herb helps its users in many different ways.

Although kratom serves a wide range of purposes, a few stand out. Below, we’ll focus on the most common uses of kratom and discuss the most important issues surrounding these.

Energy & Focus

Increased energy is one of the most common reasons for using kratom. More and more people choose this herb to increase their focus during study hours or boost their thinking in creative work.

If this is the effect you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to go with a white vein kratom strain. Its results are similar to those of a cup of strong coffee at low doses—without the jitters.

Anxiety & Depression

Twenty-five percent of the U.S. population suffers from at least one of these two disorders, which often go hand in hand.

Sadly, kratom is not a magical cure for either disorder — there is no known cure. However, it helps treat the symptoms, making the journey to recovery much smoother.

In case you suffer from depression, look for a white strain. The stimulation provided by these strains gives you the mood lift you need.

On the other hand, if you suffer from anxiety, red vein kratom is calming and helps by reducing excessive brain activity. However, in these cases, you should be conservative with the dosage.

If you suffer from both anxiety and depression, green kratom is more forgiving. It may give you the perfect dose of stimulation you need to get out of bed, but without over-stimulating your brain.

Related: Best Kratom for Anxiety & Depression

Opioid Withdrawal

Opioid withdrawal can push a person to the limit. The symptoms are unparalleled — addicts describe it as a living hell.

Fortunately, kratom is one of the few tools these people can count on to help fight opioid withdrawal.

A high dose (+5g) of red kratom significantly alleviates withdrawal symptoms. The alkaloids in kratom act similar to opioids; reduced pain and feelings of euphoria lessen some of the discomforts.

Related: Is Kratom An Opioid?

Pain Relief

Kratom is an excellent analgesic, especially red vein kratom strains. Many people use kratom as a painkiller; it’s one of its most popular uses. However, we don’t recommend you treat any kind of pain without first finding out its cause.

Pain is a signal the body sends to the brain to say something isn’t working correctly. If you ignore it, you could be putting yourself in danger without knowing it.

If you know the source of pain or the pain is chronic, kratom could significantly improve your quality of life.

Is Kratom Safe?

Kratom is safe. The fear surrounding it is largely unwarranted. Too many myths continue to circulate despite the growing evidence of its safety, thanks to ongoing research.

That said, as with any other substance, you may experience adverse effects if you overdo it. To avoid negative consequences, consume it responsibly.

There are two essential points to this:

  1. Take the smallest effective amount possible.
  2. Take it as infrequently as possible.

By sticking to this simple two-step protocol, you’ll most likely not have any issues.

Related: How Long Should I Wait Between Kratom Doses?

Side Effects of Kratom

If you consume kratom irresponsibly, you may face some side effects.

It’s worth noting that you may experience nausea if you’re just starting with kratom. This herb is rich in alkaloids, and the body has to get used to processing it.

The most common adverse effects of kratom are:

In the presence of any of these side effects, don’t worry. Most likely, they’ll subside in a few hours.

Take them as a sign that you should reconsider your intake.

Please don’t take kratom if you’re pregnant or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Most deaths involving kratom are due to mixing it with other substances.

Related: Exhaustive List of Kratom/Drug Interactions

Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

What’s the Future of Kratom In Louisiana?

As we said, there were several attempts by Louisiana authorities to ban kratom.

Fortunately, all these attempts failed for different reasons, but there’s still a lot of skepticism regarding kratom.

In Louisiana, the future is unsure. For now, kratom remains legal in most places, except for the few parishes that banned it. It’s important for users to stay vigilant and fight for it to stay legal elsewhere.

To stay safe, rely on vendors you can trust, like Kona Kratom, VIP Kratom, and Star Kratom.