Whether you are a Kratom user planning to travel to New Zealand or a resident of the country, this article will explain everything you should know about the legality of Kratom in New Zealand.
The use of the Mitragyna speciosa tree (Kratom) is of varying opinions and legal regulations across the globe. For this reason, some countries consider it a controlled substance, others restrict or regulate its use, and yet others leave it completely unregulated.
This article focuses on New Zealand’s legal stance on the use of Kratom. Is Kratom legal in New Zealand? We shall examine the dos and don’ts of Kratom in this beautiful country.
Kratom is an indigenous plant to Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand and Papua New Guinea). This herbal product has been used for centuries, and its fame has spread to other parts of the world.
Kratom is cultivated in different regions with different soil conditions and environments, coupled with different harvesting techniques, which gives rise to a variety of strains and color types. Kratom’s three major color types (veins) are red, green, and white.
Although each strain of Kratom has its own unique qualities and effects, there are many similarities in terms of the benefits of Kratom. Generally, below are the primary benefits of the kratom plant:
Now that we know the origin and uses of Kratom let’s look at what the New Zealand Government is saying about this plant.
The use of Kratom is, on one hand, legal as prescription medicine (under controlled use). On the other hand, it is prohibited from being used as a herbal remedy.
Under Section 2 of the Medicines Act, the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (MEDSAFE) has classified Kratom as a prescription medicine. This means that before you can use Kratom in the country, it must be prescribed to you by a certified medical practitioner in New Zealand.
The same act states that Kratom is not permitted for herbal remedies. This means that it is not allowed to be used as a dietary supplement or for personal medicinal use.
The Center for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM) in New Zealand reports a concern with liver injury and has banned kratom based on these concerns.
Since MEDSAFE does not monitor the quality and safety of herbal products (except for applications for approval of a medicine) imported into the country, there is no quality control. This means that herbal substances such as Kratom are not examined to certify their quality and safety.
Since there are no checks, suppliers can import poor-quality, contaminated, or counterfeit products. When this happens, the lives of the citizens are at serious risk, hence the need to put these laws in place.
Therefore, the prohibition placed on the use of Kratom in New Zealand is equally due because of this risk and the fact that kratom or other herbal products can be adulterated.
If you are traveling to New Zealand and Kratom is detected in your bag at the border, proper investigation will be taken to decide on what to do next.
In most cases, a medical practitioner would be called upon to investigate the case. If you are able to prove that the Kratom was prescribed to you by a New Zealand doctor, it could be released to you on the authority of the medical practitioner who was called to investigate the issue. However, the general rule is DO NOT bring kratom if you are traveling to New Zealand if you want to avoid issues and a possible investigation.
There are penalties associated with being in possession of illicit drugs in New Zealand. These drugs fall into three categories:
Kratom falls under the Class B category in New Zealand. The penalties for being in possession of substances under Class B is three months imprisonment and/or a $500 fine. The penalty for being a supplier or manufacturer of Class B drugs is more severe, with a maximum penalty of up to 14 years imprisonment. What’s more, if you travel to New Zealand and are in possession of a Class B substance without proper documentation, you could be denied entry into the country and even banned for life from entry.
While Kratom is technically not completely banned in New Zealand, it can only be used when prescribed to you by a certified medical practitioner. If you are planning to travel to New Zealand with kratom and bring it for personal use, it is entirely prohibited. Therefore, you should not travel to the country with kratom or use it in the country without first getting a prescription from a New Zealand doctor.
This law was put in place due to concerns with the side effects of kratom. Since these herbal substances can be adulterated and there are no quality control routines carried out on herbal substances in New Zealand, the laws were put in place by the government of New Zealand.
Therefore, we advise Kratom users traveling to or living in New Zealand to stay away from Kratom unless they have a note from a New Zealand doctor. Failure to do so could come with some penalties and fines and also ruin your travel plans.
CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The content on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes only. The content below has not been medically reviewed and is not intended to offer advice for use or intended use. For more information about kratom and its potential dangers, please visit the fda.gov site.
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