Illinois is a state packed with history, facts, and figures, and while this article is about the legalities of Kratom in this Midwestern State, it’s also fun to look at some of the lesser-known facts to whet your appetite (and maybe help you win at Trivial Pursuit!)
For instance, did you know that Illinois is home to the world’s largest bottle of catsup? (The 170 ft. tall water tower stands next to Route 159, and has kept watch over the surrounding area since 1949.) Or that Ronald Reagan, who was of course the 40th President of the United States, was born there? How about it being home to the only river in the world that flows backwards? But perhaps, most importantly of all, were you aware that Twinkies were invented in River Forest, Illinois, in 1930?
It’s facts like these that add a certain je ne sais quoi to the places we call home, but as fun as they are to learn, there might be other, more pressing matters, that you’re wondering about, like:
Is Kratom Legal in Illinois?
Well, as long as you are over the age of 18, Kratom is indeed legal in Illinois. That is unless you happen to live in Alton, Jerseyville, or Edwardsville, because Kratom was banned in those cities in 2018, 2017, and 2020 respectively.
Fortunately, a bill that was introduced in 2018 to make Kratom illegal to everyone state-wide was thrown out almost a year later, meaning that for the majority of areas within Illinois, the product is still very much legal.
Is it Regulated?
At the moment, no. But on February 18th 2020 a new bill called the Illinois Kratom Consumer Protection Act was proposed, and while it hasn’t been passed yet, it is still being debated and considered. Under the act, businesses which sell Kratom would be required to meet a number of conditions, including:
- Clear labelling to include all ingredients and levels of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
- Selling only products that contain no trace of synthetic Kratom alkaloids
- Banning the use of ingredients or fillers which would alter the potency or quality.
- Keeping the percentage of 7-hydroxymitragynine to a maximum of 2%.
- Selling only to customers over the age of 18.
Could They Ban it Altogether?
Sadly, another bill was proposed around the same time that would see Kratom reclassified as a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning it would be on par with opioids and opium. Despite the rumors that Kratom may share some properties that certain scheduled drugs may have, it is most definitely NOT an opiate, which makes the bill rather redundant. However, it is still being debated while research is undergoing to determine what real properties Kratom truly has.
So Where Can I Buy Kratom in Illinois?
Vape shops, herb shops, and plain old tobacco shops will probably all stock Kratom, but before you rush out to pick up your product along with your other high street groceries, consider this; most store vendors will buy their Kratom from middle-men who will, in turn, buy it from warehouses. Kratom deteriorates when stored for any length of time, so you could be buying a degraded product which won’t have a desirable effect. In addition to that, many vendors who sell from a store won’t be able to provide a certificate of laboratory testing, simply because they don’t have one. 3rd party lab testing is essential as you could end up with a product that is at best useless, and at worst could be contaminated with something like salmonella, or a heavy metal like mercury or lead.
The problem is, these stores aren’t specialists when it comes to Kratom; it’s just another product for them to sell. Buying online, however, allows you, the consumer, to compare different businesses, and look for their certificates of testing. Online companies have a vested interest in Kratom, and will be happy to answer any questions you have about strains and properties, and will be proud to display the fact that they have opted in to the independent testing needed for a good quality, safe experience. They are the experts, after all.