Kratom is no longer banned in Rhode Island. Effective April 1, 2026, Rhode Island reversed its 2017 administrative ban and established a statewide regulatory framework under the Rhode Island Kratom Act ($\text{R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 21-28.12}$).
Statewide Legal & Regulatory Status
- Ban Reversal: Rhode Island became the first state to overturn a statewide kratom prohibition, replacing the former Schedule I ban with state-level regulation.
- Age & Retail Restrictions: Purchases are restricted to adults 21 and older. Products must be sold in person by state-licensed retailers, kept behind the counter, and cannot be sold via delivery or online direct-to-consumer shipping.
- Product Controls: State law caps 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) levels at 1%, requires third-party lab testing and strict labeling, and prohibits synthetic alkaloid additives, vapeable/smokable products, and adulterated formulations.
- Taxation & Licensing: Administered via the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Division of Taxation, requiring wholesale distributors to pay a 15% wholesale tax.
City and County Status in Rhode Island
- No Local Municipal or County Bans: There are no active local city or county bans in any jurisdiction across Rhode Island.
- Providence County (including Providence, Cranston, Pawtucket)
- Kent County (including Warwick, West Warwick)
- Washington County (including South Kingstown, Westerly)
- Newport County (including Newport)
- Bristol County (including Bristol)
- Uniform State Jurisdiction: Local cities and towns do not maintain separate municipal bans. All five counties and 39 municipalities operate under the unified RIDOH licensing structure and state enforcement guidelines.
Rhode Island Legislation History:
1. Legislative Proposals to Regulate & Reversal of Prohibition (Enacted)
- HB 5565 Sub A / SB 792 Sub A — The Rhode Island Kratom Act
- Sponsors: Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (House) and Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna M. Gallo (Senate)
- Action: Passed both chambers and signed into law by Governor Dan McKee in July 2025. The law went into effect on April 1, 2026.
- Bill Details:
- Repeal of Ban: Overturned Rhode Island’s former Schedule I designation of kratom.
- Age Limit: Prohibits sales, distribution, or advertising to anyone under 21 years old.
- Retail Controls: Restricts point-of-sale strictly to RIDOH-licensed retailers, mandates that products be kept behind sales counters, and explicitly bans direct-to-consumer delivery or online shipping.
- Product Limits: Sets strict alkaloid limits (capping 7-hydroxymitragynine at 1 mg per serving and 0.5 mg per gram). Prohibits combustible, vaporizable, or synthetic alkaloid formulations.
- Taxation & Licensing: Imposes a 15% wholesale tax on kratom products administered by the Division of Taxation.
2. Follow-Up Retail Restriction Bills
Bill Details: Proposed amending the newly enacted regulatory framework to require retail establishments to keep all kratom products inside a locked case behind sales counters to prevent theft and unauthorized access by minors.
HB 7518 — Locked Display Case Requirements
Sponsor: Representative Michelle McGaw
Status: Introduced and heard before the House Corporations Committee.