Is Kratom legal in Malaysia?
- Legal status
- Kratom (ketum, Mitragyna speciosa) is controlled in Malaysia through its alkaloid: mitragynine is a scheduled poison (First and Third Schedules) under the Poisons Act 1952 (since the 2003 amendment). The living tree is legal to grow, but processing, possession, sale, import or export of ketum leaf is an offence because it contains mitragynine; ketum was NOT moved to the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (the 2015-onward bid was shelved).
- Consequences if caught
- Poisons Act 1952 s.30(3) offences for ketum carry up to 4 years and/or a fine up to RM10,000; because it is a scheduled poison rather than a First-Schedule dangerous drug, kratom is NOT within the mandatory death-penalty (DDA s.39B) tier.
- If prescribed or medical
- No lawful medical route — mitragynine is a controlled poison, not a registered medicine, so there is no prescription supply of ketum.
- Documentation
- No lawful personal-import route for ketum leaf or mitragynine; only the growing tree is unrestricted.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Malaysia’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →