SB226 Alabama officially banned kratom on May 10, 2016.
Controlled substances, additional compounds included in Schedule I, Sec. 20-2-23 am’d.
Introduced: 02-11-2016 to the Senate Judiciary Committee
Status: Passed on May 4 2016 – 100% progression
Action: 2016-05-04 – Assigned Act No. 2016-279.

Alabama officially banned kratom on May 10, 2016.

While the bill passed the Alabama Legislature on May 4, it did not carry the force of law until it was signed by then-Governor Robert Bentley. Because SB 226 included an “immediate effective date,” the ban began the moment the signature was applied.

Key Implementation Details

• Classification: The law added the primary alkaloids of the kratom plant—mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine—to the state’s list of Schedule I controlled substances.
• Immediate Enforcement: Law enforcement agencies across the state began seizing products and notifying retailers the same day the bill was signed.
• Legal Status Today: As of 2026, kratom remains strictly illegal in Alabama. Possession is generally charged as a Class D felony.

Alabama remains one of the strictest states regarding this ban; in early 2026, the State Attorney General issued a reminder that enforcement remains a high priority for the state.