Kratom laws in NC: what shops need to know in 2026

Is kratom legal in North Carolina?

Yes. Kratom is not a controlled substance in North Carolina, and no state law sets an age limit for buying it. Bills to set an age limit of 18 were filed in 2016 but did not become law. Cities and counties may still have their own rules, so check locally.

The bills that would change kratom rules

• House Bill 468, Regulate Kratom Products: would require retailers to hold a license to sell kratom, ban sales to and purchases by anyone under 21, and ban synthetic versions of kratom compounds. It has been in the House Rules committee since June 2025.
• House Bill 328: passed the NC Senate in July 2026 and would bar selling natural kratom products, along with hemp products, to anyone under 21 and outlaw synthetic kratom. The House Speaker said it would not get a vote until after the November 2026 election.

What kratom sellers can do now

• Start checking ID and setting your own 21-and-over policy, so a new law does not catch your staff off guard.
• Ask suppliers whether any product contains synthesized or concentrated compounds such as concentrated 7-OH, which lawmakers have targeted.
• Keep supplier paperwork and lab results for every product you carry.
• Watch for the House to take up these bills after the November election.

Get an alert if a kratom bill moves

PolyWise tracks the North Carolina kratom bills for kratom sellers and sends a short alert when one gets a vote or becomes law, with a link to the bill.

Official sources

• NC House Bill 468, Regulate Kratom Products
• NC House Bill 328, Regulate Hemp-Derived Consumables