In the border towns between Alabama and Florida, a troubling pattern is emerging. Alabama law enforcement continues to aggressively arrest individuals for possession of kratom, a botanical that remains legal just across the state line. Critics argue that police tactics in these cases are questionable, with individuals facing extreme charges and draconian penalties under Alabama’s strict drug laws.
A Borderline Arrest
On March 15, 2025, Atmore police arrested a 42-year-old man traveling on AL-21, a highway that seamlessly becomes FL-97 upon entering Florida. His crime? Possession of kratom. Charged with possession of a controlled substance, the man now faces potential felony consequences—despite the fact that had he crossed just a few hundred feet into Florida, his actions would have been entirely legal.
This is not an isolated incident.
A Million-Dollar Bond for Kratom
In April 2023, Flomaton police stopped Shaina Brown mere feet from an unmarked Alabama-Florida border. For carrying just 250 grams of kratom, Brown was charged with drug trafficking. She was jailed in Escambia County on an astonishing $1 million bond—an amount exceeding the bonds set for individuals accused of violent crimes, including murder and child abuse.
Brown spent nine months in custody before kratom advocates raised thousands of dollars to secure legal representation, ultimately leading to her release. Her case fueled ongoing concerns about whether Alabama police were conducting surveillance on Florida businesses selling kratom and then targeting customers who traveled back into Alabama.
Kratom’s Legal Status in Alabama
Alabama classified kratom’s active compounds—mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine—as Schedule I substances in 2016 under Senate Bill 226. However, even within the legal text, “hydroxymitragynine” was inaccurately listed, raising concerns about the legislative process that led to the ban.
Under Alabama’s drug laws, substances classified as Schedule I, such as heroin and LSD, carry the harshest penalties. Even simple possession of certain drugs exceeding 250 grams can result in felony charges, with mandatory minimum sentences starting at 10 years in prison.
Further exacerbating the issue, Alabama enforces the Habitual Felony Offender Act, meaning repeat offenders face progressively harsher sentencing. Critics argue that these laws disproportionately affect marginalized communities, while contributing to severe prison overcrowding—a well-documented crisis in the state.
Alabama’s Troubled Prison System
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has repeatedly raised alarms over Alabama’s corrections system, citing overcrowding, unsafe conditions, and systemic mismanagement. Some Alabama facilities operate at more than 300% capacity, leading to frequent violence among inmates and excessive use of force by guards.
Understaffing remains another critical issue, with prisons struggling to maintain security and provide adequate living conditions. The DOJ has also highlighted unsanitary environments that allegedly violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
What Kratom Users Need to Know
For consumers unaware of Alabama’s rigid stance, carrying even small amounts of kratom—a tea-like botanical widely used for pain relief and energy—could result in severe criminal charges and extended incarceration. The ongoing pattern of arrests near the Florida border has left advocates questioning law enforcement motives and the ethics of policing legal substances across state lines.
As legal battles mount, many are left asking: Is Alabama’s approach to kratom enforcement truly about public safety—or something else entirely?