In brief
As recently as 2024, kratom in Czechia was sold from vending machines on the street, in corner shops and at tobacconists. Since 12 November 2025 that is history: Government Regulation No. 456/2025 Coll. placed kratom among psychomodulatory substances and Decree No. 448/2025 Coll. set where and how it may be sold. This article answers three frequent questions - where sale is legal, where it is not and what an offer "without age verification" means - and summarises what the forthcoming Lex Kratom package would bring.
Where kratom may be sold
- in a specialised shop focused on psychomodulatory substances whose operator holds a Ministry of Health permit,
- in an online shop linked to such a physical shop that verifies the buyer's age,
- always only to persons over 18, after age verification, in packs of at most 50 g with mandatory labelling and consumer information.
Both our shops in Prague and this e-shop operate under this regime; details of the permit are on the Licence page.
Where it may not be sold
- vending machines - age cannot be verified nor consumer information handed over; vending machines were one of the main reasons for the regulation,
- corner shops, tobacconists, petrol stations, ordinary shops and markets - they are not specialised shops,
- bars, cafés and clubs,
- e-shops without a link to a physical shop and without a licence, including foreign ones - see Importing kratom into Czechia,
- any sale without age verification or to persons under 18.
Sale outside these rules is an administrative offence with a fine; distribution without a permit may be a criminal offence. Supervision is exercised by the Ministry of Health and other authorities - see The role of SÚKL, the Ministry of Health and other authorities.
"Kratom without age verification": what you are actually buying
An offer without age verification means one thing: the seller is not complying with the law. And a seller who ignores one obligation usually ignores the others too - no licence, no batch report, no labelling, no instructions. For the buyer this has three practical consequences:
- you do not know what you are buying: without a certificate of analysis the alkaloid content, heavy metals and microbiology are unknown,
- you have nowhere to turn with a complaint or health problems - often you do not even know who the seller is,
- for minors, providing kratom - even free of charge - is an offence committed by whoever provided it; see The age limit for kratom.
Age verification is not an obstacle but the quickest test of whether you are dealing with a legal seller. How it works with us (bank identity, payment card, ID on delivery) is described on the Age verification page.
How to recognise a legal seller
- has a physical specialised shop and states its Ministry of Health permit,
- verifies age - in the shop by ID, online by bank identity, card or ID on delivery,
- sells packs up to 50 g labelled "psychomodulatory substance", with a batch number and the mandatory information,
- has a lab report for every batch,
- does not describe effects - see Kratom effects: what we may say.
What is coming: Lex Kratom from 2027
On 17 June 2026 the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health submitted a joint proposal for a package of laws known as Lex Kratom. According to the press release it is to apply from 1 January 2027 and bring:
- abolition of internet sales - psychomodulatory substances would be sold only in physical specialised shops,
- raising the age limit from 18 to 21,
- an obligation to arrange shop windows and entrances so that the contents are not visible from outside,
- an excise tax of CZK 2 per gram of kratom and CZK 10 per gram of extract, and a move to the standard VAT rate,
- stricter age verification, hygiene standards, labelling and batch control.
At the time of writing this is a proposal that has to pass through the legislative process; the final wording may differ. We will update the article once it is adopted. What it would mean for prices is described in Cheap kratom vs. quality kratom.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy kratom from a vending machine?
No. Sale of psychomodulatory substances through vending machines is not permitted; a machine verifies no age and hands over no mandatory information.
Can a corner shop or tobacconist sell me kratom?
No. Sale is restricted to specialised shops with a Ministry of Health permit.
Is buying kratom online legal?
Yes, if the e-shop belongs to a licensed physical shop and verifies age. The Lex Kratom proposal envisages that internet sales would end from 2027.
What does a buyer risk with an illegal seller?
The law sanctions primarily the seller. The buyer bears the risk of a product of unknown composition with no possibility of a complaint; for minors, whoever provided the kratom is liable.
Where can I buy kratom legally?
In a licensed specialised shop or its e-shop. Our shops are listed on the Shops page, the range with reports in the catalogue.
References
- Government Regulation No. 456/2025 Coll. on the list of psychomodulatory substances (effective 12 November 2025).
- Decree No. 448/2025 Coll. - conditions of sale, packaging and labelling of psychomodulatory substances.
- Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic (17 June 2026). Press release: Lex Kratom tightens the sale of psychomodulatory substances.
- Act No. 167/1998 Coll. on addictive substances, as amended.
