As Rhode Island Legalizes Kratom, Debate Shifts to How Tightly It Should Be Controlled

Kratom will become legal to sell in Rhode Island on April 1 under the Rhode Island Kratom Act, which restricts sales to adults 21 and older and already requires products to be kept behind the counter, accessible only to store employees. Now, a new bill, H7518, would go further by mandating that all kratom products be stored in locked cases until the point of sale. Supporters frame the move as a security measure aimed at preventing theft and youth access, noting that Rhode Island recorded 10 overdose deaths involving kratom between 2020 and 2024. The proposal comes as other states tighten rules, with Louisiana banning kratom and Connecticut designating it a Schedule 1 controlled substance, underscoring a growing national divide over the herb’s place in retail. For more, see the original USA Today coverage of the debate over kratom security in Rhode Island.