The American Kratom Association proudly announces a historic milestone for the kratom community: Governor Dan McKee has signed into law the Rhode Island Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA)—officially overturning the state’s longstanding ban on kratom.
In addition to Rhode Island being the 18th state to pass a KCPA bill, this victory marks the first time a state has repealed a kratom ban originally enacted at the urging of the FDA. The Rhode Island ban had been in place since 2017. This legislative turnaround would not have been possible without the leadership and dedication of several key champions, including:
- Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi
- Representative Brian Patrick Kennedy
- Representative Jay Edwards
- Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna Gallo
- Governor Dan McKee
These leaders stood firm in their commitment to science-based policy, despite intense opposition from elements of the kratom industry itself and a well-funded lobbying effort from groups promoting 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) synthetics. Rhode Island is now the 18th state to adopt the KCPA framework, a powerful signal that regulation—not prohibition—is the path forward for consumer safety and access.
American Kratom Association: https://www.protectkratom.org/
