US health officials crack down on kratom-related products

"7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic." FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H., wrote in a statement that vape stores are "popping up in every neighborhood in America, and many are selling addictive products like concentrated 7-OH." In a Tuesday press release, the HHS announced that the FDA is recommending a scheduling action to control these products under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). A CBD and kratom dispensary is pictured in New York City. In 2025, 60% of cases involving multiple substances resulted in "serious medical outcomes," and about half required hospitalization.

• Hospitalizations involving only kratom rose more than 1,150% over the decade, climbing from 43 cases in 2015 to 538 in 2025.
• Industry insiders and kratom critics say they are closely watching the medical examiner’s findings.
• We extract from kratom, not a chemistry set.
• At issue is a psycho-active kratom component called 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH.
• Read our deep dive into kava vs kratom.

All active kratom bills

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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. The FDA's recommendation specifically targets concentrated and synthetic 7-OH products. The FDA draws a hard line between trace amounts in whole-leaf kratom and the concentrated versions showing up in gas stations and smoke shops. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development would be required to add kratom to its official definition of a “drug.”

• Former NASCAR driver Jack Smith, who became addicted to Percocet after breaking his neck twice, credits kratom for helping him overcome opioid dependence and manage chronic pain.
• As her husband’s addiction worsened, Kupihea began noticing the cost.
• Alkaloids found in kratom bind to the same receptors in the brain as opioid drugs, such as codeine.
• Some people find lower doses may support energy and focus, while higher strengths or dosing may impart a more calming relaxation.

The Department said alcohol was present in all cases, but that the decedents were otherwise healthy, "with no other substances identified as substantively contributing to their deaths." In November 2025, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department urged retailers to immediately stop selling the products, claiming that six recent overdose deaths in Los Angeles County were tied to 7-OH ingestion. They are often labeled as a dietary supplement to help with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and opioid withdrawal. “We want to save as many people from this evil substance,” said Democratic state Assemblyman Phil Steck. At the close of the legislative session, a proposal prohibiting the sale of 7-OH products across New York state passed both houses unanimously. “It’s way more intense than kratom itself,” said Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham.

What is Kratom, Kava, & 7-Hydroxymitragynine?

American Shaman agreed to stop selling products containing a substance called 7-OH, the active element in the plant-based drug kratom. The ordinance covers products marketed as energy boosters, natural medicines and even as ways to combat drug addiction and cope with mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder. Ohio became one of the latest states to take action when Governor Mike DeWine issued an emergency order in December 2025 banning synthetic kratom products. But many medical experts and state lawmakers say all forms of kratom are dangerous and can even be deadly, though people who use it claim it helps them manage pain without opioids or other drugs. The kratom plant has been used as an alternative to opioids, sometimes as people wean off heroin, and as a natural pain reliever. 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 The Bulk Kratom kratom plant.

He also said there's a lack of clarity for both kratom users and care providers. "If you were to come across someone who had overdosed on kratom, they would have shallow or no breathing, and they would not be very responsive," Meals said. It was while recovering from complications from a dental procedure that he first tried kratom. The company now has less than 30 days to get kratom off the shelves. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a lawsuit against Kansas City-based kratom producer American Shaman in late March.

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. "Therefore, CDPH is warning the public that foods and other products containing kratom and 7-OH are illegal to sell or manufacture for consumption." 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. Check out the newest kratom products for sale in the Happy Hippo line-up! Unlike opioids, kratom is not derived from the poppy plant, but recent research has raised concerns about the addictive properties in kratom extracts and synthetic versions of the plant.

As part of the settlement, the company changed its labeling stating "Feel Free is for those 21 and older," and added "…like caffeine and alcohol, can become habit-forming and harmful to your health if consumed irresponsibly." "We just don't know what it does long term, and we don't have a good safety profile for this substance, " Miao said. Botanic Tonics disagrees and says when used as directed by healthy adults, Feel Free presents no significant or unreasonable risk.

Once these products are identified during an investigation, they are embargoed or destroyed. Despite their wide availability, these products are illegal to sell for consumption and cannot be sold online or in stores. The intended use of these products is for hemp derived products with THC less than 0.3% and or tobacco use. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. At Delta 8 Resellers, we know that finding the best quality CBD and Delta 8 products online can be difficult and time-consuming.

The expiring emergency rule applies to concentrated 7-OH — a separate category from the whole-leaf powder and capsules most consumers purchase. The FDA has stated repeatedly that 7-OH is not permitted in dietary supplements or conventional foods and that there are no FDA-approved drugs containing it. But the industry has advocated for itself at the Statehouse, including those who argued for regulation, not prohibition. The rule from JCARR replaces a temporary ban in an executive order signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in December.