Initial Licensing & Renewal Information
Rhode Island Kratom Act
Effective April 1, 2026, the Rhode Island Kratom Act (RI General Law § 21-28.12) allows for licenses to sell and manufacture kratom products. The law makes it illegal to sell kratom to anyone under the age of 21 and requires all kratom products to meet specific labeling and packaging standards. It ensures that products come from licensed manufacturers and retailers. The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Center for Food Protection (CFP) is responsible for overseeing and enforcing these requirements.
Under the Rhode Island Kratom Act, “kratom” refers to the leaves of the plant Mitragyna speciosa. Kratom leaves contain two major psychoactive ingredients (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymytragynine). This tropical tree is native to Southeast Asia and is often used to self-treat conditions such as pain, coughing, diarrhea, anxiety and depression, opioid use disorder, and opioid withdrawal. However, there are no FDA-approved kratom drug products or over-the-counter drugs containing kratom that are legally on the market in the US.
A “kratom product” is a product containing any part or extract of the leaf of the plant Mitragyna speciosa or an extract thereof including concentrated forms of kratom and products composed of kratom and other ingredients. (Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA and Kratom)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers against consuming kratom and kratom products due to risks of serious negative health effects, including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder (SUD). Although deaths involving kratom have been reported, most cases included the use of other substances, making kratom’s role in causing harm unclear.
Kratom use has also been linked to dependence, withdrawal, and tolerance, as well as cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome in newborns exposed before birth. Additionally, some kratom products have been found contaminated with Salmonella or high levels of heavy metals, posing further health risks.
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has recently focused on the risks of products that contain 7-hydroxymitragine (7-OH). This substance occurs naturally in the kratom plant but only in very small amounts. In some products, however, 7-OH is added or increased using synthetic methods. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that 7-OH is much stronger than kratom’s main compounds and has been described as 13 times more potent than morphine. Rhode Island law limits kratom products that contain synthetic 7-OH or unusually high levels of this substance. For more information on the risks associated with 7-OH, view FDA’s presentation on Preventing the Next Wave of the Opioid Epidemic: What you Need to Know about 7-OH. (Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA and Kratom)
Rhode Island’s law is designed to provide product limitations, age limits and restrictions, and other prohibitions to ensure stronger oversight of its sale. However, it is important for consumers to be aware of the health risks associated with kratom products and to know the following:
- Taking kratom and kratom products with medications or other substances may cause dangerous interactions.
- Taking kratom and kratom products is not safe if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Taking kratom and kratom products can be habit-forming and cause physical dependence and withdrawal upon stopping use.
- Taking kratom and kratom products can cause substance use disorder.
- Consult a healthcare professional before taking kratom and kratom products.
To manufacture, distribute, import, or sell kratom products in Rhode Island, businesses must obtain approval from RIDOH Center for Food Protection (CFP) in accordance with the Rhode Island Kratom Act (R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 21-28.12). A completed application includes:
- License Type (Distributor, Importer, Manufacturer, or Retailer)
- Fee Associated with License Type
- Facility Name, Contact Name, Mailing Information and Location
- Type of Operation
- Ownership Type, Name and Address Information
- Information Regarding Water Supply, Sewage System and Chain Operations (Upload Documentation)
- Location in Proximity to a School
- Distribution List and/or Vendor List (Upload Documentation)
- Product Labels (Upload Documentation)
- Social Security or Federal Employer Identification Number
- Confirm Other Kratom Restrictions
- Signed Affidavit
Manufacturer: means any person who manufacturers, fabricates, assembles, processes, or labels a kratom product.
Distributor: means any person:
- whether located within or outside of this state, other than a retailer, who sells or distributes kratom or kratom products within or into the state; and
- engaged in this state in the business of manufacturing kratom products or any person engaged in the business of selling kratom or kratom products to dealers, or to other persons, for the purpose of resale only; provided that, 75% of all kratom and kratom products sold by that person in this state are sold to retailers or other persons for resale and selling kratom and kratom products directly to at least 20 dealers or other persons for resale; or
- maintaining one of more regular places of business in this state for that purpose; provided that, 75% of the sold kratom and kratom products are purchased directly from the manufacturer and selling kratom and kratom products directly to at least 20 retailers or other persons for resale.
Importer: means any person who imports into the United States, either directly or indirectly, kratom or kratom product for sale or distribution.
Retailer: means any person, whether located within or outside of Rhode Island, who sells or distributes kratom or kratom products to a consumer in this state.
Each issued license shall be prominently displayed on the premises. A licensee shall notify RIDOH within thirty (30) days that it changes its principal place of business.