AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE RHODE ISLAND KRATOM ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Alana DiMario and 8 co-sponsors

Rhode Island bans kratom sales to anyone under 21, requires ID verification, and keeps kratom locked behind the counter.

06/04/2026 Referred to House Corporations

Summary of SB 2457 (Rhode Island Kratom Act)

Purpose and intent

Establishes age restrictions and sale controls for kratom and kratom products in Rhode Island.

The act aims to regulate access to kratom by requiring age verification, limiting sales to adults, and securing kratom inventory to prevent unauthorized access.

Key provisions and changes

Age restriction: No person or entity may distribute, sell, transfer, or advertise a kratom product to anyone under 21 years old.

Storage and visibility: All kratom products must be kept behind the sales counter in a locked case, accessible only to store employees until sold.

Age verification: Purchases of kratom or kratom products require valid photo identification to verify the buyer is at least 21. Acceptable IDs include:

Rhode Island or other state driver’s license
Driver privilege card (RI or other state)
Rhode Island ID card issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles
Armed services ID card
Passport

Continued prohibition for minors: Explicitly reiterates that selling or distributing kratom to individuals under 21 is prohibited.

Effective date: The act takes effect on April 1, 2026.

Who is affected

Retailers and distributors of kratom products in Rhode Island must:

Enforce the 21+ age limit.
Keep kratom products in a locked case behind the sales counter.
Require valid photo IDs for all kratom purchases to confirm age.

Consumers (customers) seeking to purchase kratom must present valid government-issued photo identification proving they are at least 21.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and referral: Introduced February 6, 2026, and referred to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.

Committee actions:

February 20–26, 2026: Scheduled hearings and consideration; committee recommended the measure be held for further study (Feb 26, 2026).
May 26, 2026: Scheduled for consideration.

Effective date: April 1, 2026.

Context and potential impact

Aligns Rhode Island with stricter retail controls on age-restricted products by placing kratom under targeted age and storage requirements.

Could impact point-of-sale practices, stocking procedures, employee training on ID verification, and compliance costs for retailers.

May reduce under-21 access to kratom and establish clear enforcement standards for age verification and product security.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to existing Rhode Island regulations on other age-restricted substances or provide a plain-language FAQ for retailers.