Indianapolis, informally known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of Indiana and surely harbors many kratom enthusiasts. But unfortunately, they cannot enjoy the herb here as freely as they can in other states! But why is that so? It is because Kratom is not legal in Indianapolis since 2014. If you are planning a trip to the city, you surely need to know more about the legal status of the herb here!
Unfortunately, the city known for fast cars and blockbuster events which has gained acclaim for a thriving cultural heritage and so much more doesn’t accommodate kratom enthusiasts! In fact, at the time of writing, kratom possession is a Class A misdemeanor.
Currently, Kratom is illegal in Indiana. The Indiana State Senate banned Kratom in 2014 and classified it as a Schedule I controlled substance. In fact, On March 15, 2012, the Governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels, presented and passed HB-1196, which banned more than 60 substances labeling them as synthetic drugs.
This law prohibited the manufacturing, possession, and trade of all these substances, including Marijuana, Hashish, and Synthetic cannabinoids. But Kratom wasn’t named itself in the legislation but was classified under synthetic cannabinoid. Many proponents of the herb found it questionable since Kratom isn’t a cannabinoid but was still criminalized.
Later some amendments through the bill SB-0305 added Kratom to the list. Here again, the officials wrongly identified Kratom as a synthetic drug. Then in 2018, the officials amended the bill once again, but this made matters even worse as this time, they classified the herb as a Schedule I hallucinogenic substance.
But all these misleading revisions of the terms did not justify criminalizing kratom use as many users swear by its beneficial effects. However, these bills surely gave the public misconception about the herb.
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Initially, officials did not notice the herb, especially before 2012. The major efforts to ban this organic herb began after that. Statesmen say that the major reason to ban the herb in Indianapolis is that the herb is dangerous and has abuse potential. Thus, if it lands in the hands of youngsters, it can surely spoil them.
Though there have been no casualties or mishaps in Indianapolis due to Kratom powder, the proponents of the ban still use the reference of 44 deaths registered between 2011 to 2017 that were misleadingly associated with Kratom.
There is no way you can buy or sell the herb in Indianapolis due to its current legal status. In fact, you can not even buy the herb from somewhere else and bring it here. Buying, selling, and posing Kratom in Indianapolis is a major crime.
In addition, no online vendor ships the herb here, and you won find a local store here either. So, if you thought there was any way you could buy the spice in Indianapolis, unfortunately, you have only one option but to leave the state!
If the city police find you with Kratom, you could face Class A misdemeanor charges for possessing the herb. This equals a penalty of 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Additionally, the severity of the punishment may increase in certain circumstances. For instance, if you carry the South Asian herb while in the company of a minor or near educational institutes like schools.
You will be charged with a Level 6 Felony, meaning a penalty of 6 months to two and a half years of jail time and a fine of up to $1,000.
Kratom Trade Association (KTA) is a pro-kratom organization that has formed a trade group for vendors. They are the leading kratom activists fighting for the legal status of the herb in Indiana.
In 2018, the KTA was collecting funds for a campaign to reverse Indiana’s kratom ban. Their struggles almost bore fruit in 2018, but later they came with no results, and currently, there are no updates about their progress.
In addition to KTA, there is The American Kratom Association (AKA), a non-profit advocacy group. They also actively work to keep Kratom legal across the country. Their primary aim is to reverse the ban in states where the herb is illegalized and convince them to pass the Kratom Consumer Protection Act instead, which focuses on regulating the herb in the cities and states.
Above all, AKA released a statement earlier this year that says that Kratom has no notable side effects and has a very low potential for abuse.
However, the source of this claim remains unknown.
If you check The American Kratom Association website, you will find various testimonials by real users of the herb swearing the beneficial effects of Kratom. In Indianapolis, too, the public opinion certainly seems more inclined towards the positivity of Kratom and how there is a need to make it legal in the state and the city. Here are some cases;
According to fifty-three years old, Cindysue, who has been prescribed Kratom at an Indiana Clinic for chronic discomfort,
“Kratom is ideal for me because I have previously struggled with synthetic-substance dependence and am allergic to over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen.”
Courier and Press, a daily newspaper, has even described the injustice of the Kratom ban in the following words,
“Drug policy shouldn’t be dictated by state lines. A drug doesn’t immediately become dangerous – or safe – just because you cross the twin bridges.”
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For now, Kratom is illegal in Indianapolis and didn’t make it to the priority list of the American Kratom Association for the states and cities it would be targeting for legalizing the herb. Nonetheless, it is too early to predict the future. As more and more research is being done, the positive image of Kratom is prevailing.
