JACKSON, Miss.—A bill awaiting the signature of Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves could impose a sweeping 25% tax on kratom products statewide, sparking debate among consumers, advocates, and lawmakers.
House Bill 1896, if signed into law, would levy a tax on kratom that surpasses the state’s tobacco tax by 10%. Tobacco, the leading cause of preventable death in Mississippi, claims 5,400 lives annually and exposes 192,000 children to secondhand smoke at home. The proposed kratom tax would apply to all sales, use, consumption, handling, and distribution of the botanical within the state, placing the financial burden squarely on consumers.
The American Kratom Association (AKA), a prominent advocacy group, has voiced support for the bill. In an email dated April 2, the AKA stated, “Mississippi has had lots of ongoing proposed kratom legislation this session, most of it bad, but [HB1896] has passed the KCPA Conference Report. The Botanics for Better Health and Wellness group has worked hard with the AKA team in Mississippi to protect consumers and help pass this legislation. It now goes to the Governor.”
Age Restrictions and Regulatory History
The kratom tax is not the only legislation under consideration. A separate bill, HB1077, seeks to establish a minimum legal age of 21 for purchasing kratom products.
Mississippi lawmakers have long grappled with kratom regulation. In 2025, proposed legislation aimed to classify kratom as a Schedule III controlled substance, effectively banning it without a prescription. Other bills sought outright bans or age restrictions, but many failed to pass, leaving kratom largely unregulated at the state level.
While kratom remains legal in most parts of Mississippi, several counties and cities have enacted local bans on its sale and use.
What’s Next?
Should Governor Reeves sign HB1896, the law will take effect on July 1, 2025, marking a significant shift in the state’s approach to kratom regulation. As the debate unfolds, consumers and advocates alike are watching closely, questioning whether the tax is a necessary step toward regulation—or an undue burden on those who rely on the botanical for health and wellness.