Is Mitragynine legal in France?
- Legal status
- Mitragynine, the principal alkaloid of kratom, has no separate legal identity in France: it is listed as a stupefiant together with the plant and 7-hydroxymitragynine in the arrete of 23 December 2019 (in force January 2020) under the Public Health Code, so possession and purchase are prohibited.
- Consequences if caught
- Unauthorised possession or use of a stupefiant up to 1 year plus a fine; supply or trafficking up to 10 years (Code de la sante publique / Penal Code).
- If prescribed or medical
- No lawful medical route — kratom and its alkaloids are stupefiants with no French marketing authorisation.
- Documentation
- No lawful personal-import route for a stupefiant.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with France’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 →