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Status verified August 3, 2026 – No legislative changes detected.
Is Kratom Legal in Rhode Island?
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Current Status
The Rhode Island Kratom Act (R.I. Gen. Laws Ch. 21-28.12) became effective on April 1, 2026. This act reversed a previous ban and established a regulatory framework for kratom products, including age restrictions (21+), labeling, and testing requirements.
Kratom legality varies by state. View the interactive map for all 50 states, or see other restricted states in the Related States section below.
Age Restriction: Must be 21+ to purchase kratom in Rhode Island
Legislation Being Monitored
These are recent kratom-related bills we're tracking in Rhode Island. They are proposals, not enacted law. Always verify bill status with the official legislature website.
RI General Law § 21-28.12 (also referred to in HB 5565) — The Rhode Island Kratom Act (RI General Law § 21-28.12), effective April 1, 2026, established a comprehensive regulatory framework, including licensing for manufacturers and retailers, an age limit of 21 for sales, and product quality standards, while explicitly removing kratom's alkaloids from Schedule I classification.
HB 5565, R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-28.12 — The Rhode Island Kratom Act (HB 5565), effective April 1, 2026, transitioned kratom from a generally legal status to restricted by implementing licensing requirements for sales, manufacturing, distribution, and import, prohibiting sales to individuals under 21, mandating specific labeling, and banning synthetic alkaloids and products exceeding certain potency limits.
What Merchants Need to Know
- Age verification required (21+) for all sales
- Lab testing recommended for all products
- Labeling must comply with state standards
Recent Updates for Rhode Island
Rhode Island Kratom Legal Status Update
| Bill | R.I. Gen. Laws Ch. 21-28.12 |
|---|---|
| Title | Rhode Island had banned kratom since 2017. The Rhode Island Kratom Act, effective April 1, 2026, allows for licensed sale and manufacture of kratom products to individuals 21 and older, subject to specific labeling, packaging, and purity standards (e.g., no more than 1 mg of 7-hydroxymitragynine per serving). This change moves the state from a previously banned status to a regulated legal status, thus representing a change from the database's 'LEGAL' (implying unregulated) to 'RESTRICTED'. |
| Status | — |
Rhode Island Kratom Legal Status Update
| Bill | Rhode Island Kratom Act (2025-H 5565A, 2025-S 0792A, R.I. Gen. Laws Ch. 21-28.12) |
|---|---|
| Title | Rhode Island, which had banned kratom since 2017, reversed its prohibition with the Rhode Island Kratom Act, signed into law in July 2025 and becoming effective on April 1, 2026. This new framework allows for the legal sale of kratom products to adults aged 21 and older, subject to licensing requirements for manufacturers and retailers, mandatory labeling, and product-safety standards, including limits on 7-hydroxymitragynine content. The Rhode Island Department of Health and Division of Taxation are responsible for enforcement and tax collection, respectively. This clearly changes the status from 'RESTRICTED' (banned) to 'LEGAL' (regulated). |
| Status | — |
Rhode Island Kratom Legal Status Update
| Bill | RI General Law § 21-28.12 |
|---|---|
| Title | Rhode Island previously classified kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance, making it illegal. The Rhode Island Kratom Act was approved in 2025 and became effective on April 1, 2026, moving the state from a 'BANNED' status to a 'RESTRICTED' (regulated) status. The Act requires licenses for selling and manufacturing kratom, prohibits sales to individuals under 21, mandates specific labeling and packaging, and bans synthetic alkaloids and certain concentrations of 7-hydroxymitragynine. The official Rhode Island Department of Health website outlines these regulations as effective from April 1, 2026. |
| Status | — |
Rhode Island Kratom Legal Status Update
| Bill | RI General Law § 21-28.12 |
|---|---|
| Title | Rhode Island previously banned kratom by classifying its primary alkaloids as Schedule I controlled substances in 2017. The Rhode Island Kratom Act (2025-H 5565A, 2025-S 0792A) was passed and became effective on April 1, 2026, replacing the prohibition with sensible regulations. The new law requires licenses for manufacturing and selling kratom, prohibits sales to individuals under 21, and mandates specific labeling and packaging standards, while also banning products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). The Rhode Island Department of Health is responsible for overseeing and enforcing these requirements. |
| Status | — |
Rhode Island Kratom Legal Status Update
| Bill | HB 5565 / SB 792 (The Rhode Island Kratom Act) |
|---|---|
| Title | The 'Rhode Island Kratom Act' (HB 5565/SB 792) came into effect on April 1, 2026. This legislation makes Rhode Island the first state to overturn a former Schedule I ban (enacted in 2017) and instead regulate kratom. The law requires kratom products to be kept behind sales counters, prohibits sales to anyone under 21, and does not allow the sale of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products. It also establishes a licensing system for manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers, and imposes a 15% tax on wholesale kratom sales. |
| Status | — |
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