Kava Legalities
Is Kava Legal?
Kava is legal in the United States for personal use as a dietary supplement.
Kava and the FDA
The FDA can’t “approve” a dietary supplement. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the FDA is only responsible for acting when a DS (dietary supplement) is deemed unsafe but leaves initial safety concerns up to the individual manufacturer. Kava is not a controlled substance in the U.S.
Licit and Illicit Uses of Kava
Licit uses include kava being sold as a dietary supplement and promoted as a natural alternative to anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping medication.
Illicit uses include overconsumption of kava drinks and becoming overly intoxicated. Kava users may not exhibit the usual impairments of alcohol intoxication. However, the potential is there.