Kratom Legislation Tracker 2026 Live Board, All 50 States

In the absence of regulation, last week the Orange County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale, distribution or possession of synthetic kratom products in any form in the county. But recently, public health officials have raised alarms about a component of the leaf called hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, an alkaloid that has the potential for abuse because of its ability to bind to opioid receptors in the body. Some advocates spoke for natural kratom at a hearing last month on Senate Bill 299, which would ban synthetic kratom and sales of natural kratom to minors. Retailers and supporters of natural kratom have said it treats pain and increases focus and energy with few side effects. If concentrated, those kratom extracts can produce stronger – and, according to McCurdy, riskier – products that are quickly absorbed into the body.

Safety issues are also a serious concern, as kratom products may have contaminants such as heavy metals and harmful bacteria. The FDA also warns people against taking kratom due to side effects such as nausea, constipation, dizziness, liver problems, and, in rare cases, death. Some people have reported that kratom can help with self-treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms. Some reports suggest that kratom may be an effective treatment for opioid addiction. Very little research has been done on the health effects of kratom.

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• Kratom Shots can produce various effects.
• Kratom products work as a sedative and stimulant depending on the dose and cannot be marketed as a supplement.
• It may help relieve pain, make you feel relaxed, reduce anxiety, or make you feel confused.
• The leaves of the tree contain more than 40 different active compounds, with the most prevalent being mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine and speciofoline.
• He said he is wondering what people will do without kratom available.

“Despite our warnings that no kratom product is safe, we continue to find companies selling kratom and doing so with deceptive medical claims for which there’s no reliable scientific proof,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb in 2018. The Food and Drug Administration tested 30 different kratom products in 2019 and found "significant levels" of lead and nickel in them, which researchers said could cause heavy metal poisoning if consumed over the long term. At higher doses, kratom can produce an opioid-like and euphoric state that has led to a steady growth of abuse worldwide, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

“And because kratom products lack clear labels, it’s not possible to know how much kratom people who use it take.” The Mayo Clinic says while some users turn to kratom to help fight opioid addiction, it labels the drug “unsafe and ineffective.” Physically, the drug can cause everything from liver damage to dry mouth. These products, often sold in smoke shops and gas stations, are labeled with terms such as “plant alkaloids" or “alkaloid," and may be marketed as dietary supplements to address issues such as chronic pain, anxiety and depression, and opioid withdrawal. "Therefore, CDPH is warning the public that foods and other products containing kratom and 7-OH are illegal to sell or manufacture for consumption." “Consumers who responsibly use natural kratom leaf fear losing access because of the reckless actions of those selling dangerous synthetics falsely marketed as natural kratom.”

In 2022, the NIH released a study warning that nearly a third of kratom users met the diagnostic criteria for “kratom use disorder,” such as increased use, tolerance, withdrawal, and craving. If it becomes illegal, I fear we may never truly be able to study and treat ailments that kratom helps with,” wrote another survey respondent. I am a mother of 4 and have anxiety, depression, acute back pain, and I am an opioid addict. Susan Ash, the founder of the AKA, used kratom Alt Law as a substitute for Suboxone, a medication used to treat OUD. Kratom comes from the leaves of a tropical tree that grows in Southeast Asia, where it has been used for centuries as a natural stimulant and pain reliever. Hopefully this work will lead to a new treatment option for people with opioid use disorder and support a path to recovery,” Joni Rutter, PhD, Director of the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, said in a press release.

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Trouville’s son Tyrell died of mitragynine toxicity in 2024 after, she said, he regularly drank kratom products and considered it safe and natural. 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. Suspected adulteration of commercial kratom products with 7-hydroxymitragynine. One business owner said he will lose thousands of customers in Tennessee, and people helping those recover from addiction fear not having kratom will mean people go back to opioids.

Neonatal withdrawal following in utero exposure to kratom. 7-hydroxymitragynine is an active metabolite of mitragynine and a key mediator of its analgesic effects. Multiorgan dysfunction related to kratom ingestion. Precipitated withdrawal with kratom use following naltrexone administration. Fatal combination of mitragynine and quetiapine – A case report with discussion of a potential herb-drug interaction. Deaths in Colorado attributed to kratom.

Is 7-OH the same as kratom?

A case report of kratom-induced psychosis. Two single-drug fatal intoxications by mitragynine. Without any scientific studies, McCurdy said kratom “should be used with a high degree of caution by athletes who have trained to be champions, not guinea pigs.” “Afterward, I heard a lot of bad things about (kratom),” said Sanogo, 27, who retired after winning the league championship last season with the DC Defenders.

Stick with transparent vendors that sell natural-leaf powder and capsules, publish lab testing, verify age (21+), and label products clearly. That’s why a reputable vendor’s lab-tested, single-strain powder and capsules sit in a different regulatory category than the concentrated products drawing federal warning letters. Rounding out the week’s kratom news, Florida’s emergency rule restricting concentrated 7-OH — first issued by the state Attorney General in August 2025 — is set to expire on June 30, 2026. Once active, it prohibits kratom in the state, including powdered leaf, capsules, teas, and concentrated extracts containing 7-OH.

When experimenting with a new product, always commence with a low dose to gauge individual reactions, as responses to different substances can vary among individuals. After the liquid kratom is created, it is blended with different ingredients and flavors. A kratom shot is a liquid form derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna Speciosa trees through an extraction process similar to that of a kratom tincture. You can find the strain you love most in white vein, green vein, and red vein kratom selections.