Growing Crackdown: More states ban synthetic kratom or 7-OH before federal government

Some manufacturers isolate 7-OH through extraction, creating products with alkaloid levels many times higher than those found in natural leaves. If you're buying in Tennessee, the product must be derived from natural plant material. San Diego has banned kratom sales, while other municipalities have considered restrictions. Some states ban kratom outright, while others regulate it through consumer protection frameworks.

Ban on synthetic kratom in effect in Ohio, but more action could be coming

In one video, a CBD Kratom employee recommends an orange soda made with kratom extract to UFL players, extolling its pain relief capabilities. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved kratom to be used for any purpose and warns consumers of “serious adverse events, including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder.” The kratom leaf is harvested from a tropical evergreen tree indigenous to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and imported into the United States. Clarke’s arrest and subsequent death has put a spotlight on kratom, they said, at a time when lawmakers in many states are deciding whether to regulate or ban it. Industry insiders and kratom critics say they are closely watching the medical examiner’s findings.

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"There is also a potential for individuals to develop dependence and withdrawal with heavy kratom use," he said. The substance, which is considered a "synthetic opioid," has been bottled into drinks, powders and tablets sold at vape shops, gas stations and other stores across the country. An uptick in 7-OH-related medical events has led the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to crack down on sellers of these products. The substance, which is considered a "synthetic opioid," has been bottled into drinks, powders and tablets that are sold at vape shops, gas stations and other stores across the country. They emphasize that using kratom can lead to serious and even fatal outcomes, particularly when combined with alcohol, medications, or illicit drugs. Serious health outcomes linked to kratom have also surged.

• In state-level kratom news, Tennessee’s House Bill 1649 — known as “Matthew Davenport’s Law” — was signed into law and takes effect July 1, 2026.
• FitzGerald said he plans to draft a proposal that would ban synthetic versions of the drug, and potentially place age restrictions requiring ID at the point of sale for non-synthetic, or natural, kratom.
• “We want to save as many people from this evil substance,” said Democratic state Assemblyman Phil Steck.
• The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

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• “We have three excellent medications for opioid use disorder,” he said, referring to buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone.
• SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers about products containing kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH, a potent opioid product derived from the kratom plant.
• The passage of this legislation follows the passage of two landmark laws last year that prohibit the sale of kratom to anyone under 21 years old and another that requires all kratom products have a full list of ingredients.
• Find top kratom products from top industry brands, right here at Delta 8 Resellers!
• The FDA is particularly concerned with the growing market of 7-OH products that may be especially appealing to children and teenagers, such as fruit-flavored gummies and ice cream cones that aren’t clearly labeled as having 7-OH content.

The permanent ban on synthetic kratom comes from a rule set by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, known as JCARR, following a hearing in April. As of Thursday, a permanent ban on synthetic versions of the Asian herb kratom is in place in Ohio. “Like many families, we didn’t realize the risk because kratom is often marketed as a safe, natural product.” In recent years, however, kratom has been modified into a stronger form known as 7-hydroxymitragynine, or “7-OH,” often sold at gas stations and vape shops as a supplement or extract.

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We should be concerned because there’s probably more people out there like him who unknowingly took more concentrated products without understanding how risky they can be, especially when taken with other drugs that cause sedation. That's why the general feeling in the kratom consumer community is that the powder is kind Open Kratom of self-limiting, whereas these concentrated products can get you into trouble. It's the version of kratom substances that people can get addicted to.

Your essential daily newsletter delivering trusted news, local insights, ways to connect, and can't miss programs from Boston and beyond. Haddow said while it’s hard to get a “good read” on legislative consensus, the AKA is hoping for passage of regulation rules this year. “Unfortunately, the reality is with opioids these days and despite the excellent treatments that we have, a lot of patients don’t want those treatments,” said Hill. “We have three excellent medications for opioid use disorder,” he said, referring to buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. “Kratom is really dangerous and harmful and there are case reports of people dying from it,” said Wakeman. “It is sometimes astonishing amounts that people are ingesting thinking that they are doing something that is better because they’re not using methamphetamines,” she said.

“I've had multiple experiences with people that would swap addictions, from opioids to kratom, and then having an overdose,” said Justin Bumbalough, the group’s director. The Rolla City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday night making synthetic kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (also known as 7-OH) illegal to possess or sell. Current law regulates the sale of natural kratom while maintaining the ban on synthetic alkaloids. A growing number specifically restrict high-concentration 7-OH products, but still consider natural kratom to be legal. For experienced kratom users seeking targeted effects, 7-OH products for sale offer a more intense experience.

Sometimes referred to collectively as “gas station heroin,” the drugs have been restricted by several states, but they are not scheduled at the federal level. In recent months, the FDA has also issued warnings on other unapproved drugs sold as supplements or energy drinks, including the antidepressant tianeptine. An industry group, the American Kratom Association, has lobbied Congress for years against restrictions on the plant. Kratom may interact with SSRIs, SNRIs, anti-psychotic medications, and other prescription drugs.