TL;DR: Kratom generally does not show up on standard drug tests (like 5-panel or 10-panel screenings) but can be detected with specialized testing methods. While kratom is legal in most U.S. states, some states and local areas have restrictions. Here’s what you need to know:
- What is Kratom? Derived from mitragyna speciosa leaves; stimulant in small doses, sedative in larger ones.
- Legality: Legal federally, but banned in six states; some regions have additional restrictions while allowing its sale.
- Drug Testing: Kratom typically avoids detection on routine tests; specialized, costly tests can detect it.
- Product Quality: Choose kratom products with independent lab testing for quality assurance.
Kratom is well-known, both for its effects and the lack of strict laws and regulations related to it. Because it acts as a stimulant at smaller doses and has more relaxing effects at larger doses, there are plenty of people who enjoy the experience kratom offers.
One question that many users ask is, “Does kratom show up on a drug test?”
The answer is a little more complex than you may think. If you’re wondering whether kratom can show up on a drug test, keep reading to learn more.
What is Kratom? Legality, Why People Use It & More
Kratom is the common name for the leaves of the mitragyna speciosa tree, as well as many products made from those leaves. This tree is related to coffee plants (the source of coffee beans) and a variety of others. Mitragyna speciosa trees are evergreen tropical plants that originally emerged in Southeast Asia.
These leaves have a history of use as both a medicine and a recreational substance in the areas where they naturally developed. While peer-reviewed scientific research into kratom is very limited, user reports indicate that:
- Small doses of kratom have uplifting or stimulating effects that boost energy levels.
- Larger doses of kratom have more relaxing and sedating effects.
- Kratom is used recreationally to help manage issues like pain and certain mental health concerns and, while not officially approved, to help treat withdrawal symptoms from certain drugs.
Kratom has broad appeal because it has so many potential uses. That’s a key reason why it has become so popular in a relatively short period of time.
We do know that kratom acts on opioid receptors in the brain, as VeryWell Health explains, although it is not in the same chemical family as opioids. That’s important to keep in mind for the next section, where we’ll look at whether kratom shows up on a drug screen.
In the US, kratom is most commonly consumed in products containing powdered or otherwise processed leaves. The bitter taste of the kratom leaves is commonly masked through dilution, such as in kratom shots, teas, and similar beverages. Kratom gummies and capsules also help to make this substance more palatable.
Legality of Kratom
Kratom is legal in most states across the US and on the federal level. As of late 2023, there were six states where the sale and/or possession of kratom is prohibited, according to the Congressional Research Service. They are:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
However, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin all have pending legislation or recently had legislation in their state senates to remove these bans and instead allow sales with regulations.
Several other states have age limits, quality and purity requirements, marketing limitations, labeling rules, and other laws related to kratom in effect. However, the sale of kratom to adults in these states is generally legal.
One last note on the legality of kratom: Some counties, cities, and towns have restrictions or bans on kratom even though the state where they’re located does not. It’s always a good idea to look into state and local laws and regulations before making a purchase.
Kratom & Drug Tests: Will Kratom Show Up on a Drug Test?
The simplest answer to the question of whether kratom shows up on a drug test is that it can, but often doesn’t because of the type of drug testing used. Let’s go into some more detail about how and when kratom shows up on a drug test.
While kratom is legal in most states, there are situations where drug testing isn’t focused on issues related to laws and legality. Pre-employment and employment drug screening are two common examples. To put it simply, the decision by a business of whether to hire a candidate is not limited to whether that candidate breaks laws.
ReliaLab Test, a third-party drug testing provider, explains that it is entirely possible to test for kratom use.
As with many other chemicals and metabolites, advanced and more costly techniques like mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography can detect the presence of kratom. These finely tuned testing measures look for the presence of the major active alkaloid and metabolite of kratom, mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine, respectively.
The key difference from standard drug testing is the time, effort, and money required to identify kratom in a user’s sample. While standard drug tests are generally reliable, they can only detect the use of specific substances for which they are designed. Kratom was not a consideration when these tests were developed, and it has not been added to such tests in recent years.
In other words, kratom use won’t lead to a positive result (also called a failure) on routine drug tests, like 5-panel and 10-panel urine tests for common drugs and medications. Even standard blood tests and hair tests won’t return a positive result for kratom.
So, if you use kratom and are worried about whether kratom will show up on an upcoming drug test, keep a few things in mind:
- Drug testing that is advanced and specific enough can detect the use of nearly any substance, including kratom.
- There are drug tests for kratom that currently exist and are used in certain limited situations.
- Standard drug testing, such as pre-employment drug testing with 5-panel or 10-panel results, will not identify kratom use.
While we can’t guarantee that you’ll never be in a situation where you’re tested for kratom use, it is true that kratom drug testing is not common, especially in standard drug-testing contexts.
The Very Best Kratom Products
Delta 8 Resellers is proud to partner exclusively with leading kratom brands that dedicate themselves to producing high-quality offerings.
We care about the quality of our products, which is why we share the results of independent lab testing for them whenever available on their individual product pages. We encourage you to review the results for yourself and choose kratom products that meet your standards for quality, potency, and purity.
