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Bill

HB 864

Kratom; add to Schedule I of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

2026 Regular Session

Mississippi bill would classify kratom as Schedule I controlled substance, making possession and sales illegal and preventing medical research into its potential therapeutic uses.

Referred To Business and Commerce;Drug Policy
#businessandcommerce #drugpolicy
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Bill Summary · HB 864

Legislative bill overview

HB 864 proposes to add kratom to Mississippi's Schedule I of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, which would classify it as a controlled substance with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential. This would effectively ban kratom possession, sale, and distribution in the state, similar to restrictions placed on drugs like heroin and LSD.

Why is this important

Kratom is a plant-based substance currently legal in most U.S. states and used by hundreds of thousands of Americans, primarily for pain management and opioid withdrawal symptom relief. Classifying it as Schedule I would criminalize current users and sellers while contradicting growing scientific interest in kratom's potential therapeutic applications, and would place Mississippi among only a handful of states with total kratom bans.

Potential points of contention

  • Medical evidence gap: Limited FDA approval doesn't mean lack of efficacy; kratom has documented anecdotal use for pain and addiction recovery, but Schedule I classification prevents further research
  • Consistency concerns: Many substances with documented harms (alcohol, tobacco) remain legal while kratom, with no reported overdose deaths, would become a felony
  • Economic and personal liberty impact: Would criminalize existing businesses and consumers while other states maintain legal markets, potentially pushing users toward more dangerous alternatives

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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