“I Do Want to See a Total Ban”: Pressure Mounts to Outlaw Kratom Nationwide
The push for a kratom ban is growing. Eleven senators want the FDA to outlaw the whole plant, not just synthetic 7-OH, and governors and state attorneys general are moving even faster.
Kratom is sold at gas stations and smoke shops across the country as a “natural” supplement, and it is legal under federal law. A growing number of elected officials in both parties are now calling for a kratom ban.
Kratom comes from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. It is sold as powders, capsules, gummies and drink shots. It acts on the same brain receptors as opioids, and regular use can lead to dependence and withdrawal that senators say resembles withdrawal from morphine or heroin.
According to the CDC, kratom was detected in more than 5,200 overdose deaths between 2020 and 2024. In Mississippi, packaged kratom was found this week at the scenes of two University of Mississippi students’ deaths. Investigators say they have no confirmed information that it played a role, and toxicology results are pending.
Drawing the Line at 7-OH
Kratom leaf naturally contains tiny amounts of a compound called 7-OH. Manufacturers have begun making concentrated 7-OH products that are stronger than the leaf. Federal regulators are moving to ban these concentrated products.
The fight is over where to draw the line. The federal government’s current plan would ban concentrated 7-OH but leave ordinary kratom products on the shelves. Many elected officials say that would let most of the market off the hook.
Dr. Kevin Sabet, president and CEO of the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions, rejected the distinction. “Whether it’s synthetic or natural, kratom is responsible for deaths. It’s responsible for emergency room admissions. It’s responsible for addictions,” he told CBS6 Albany this week. “It’s a drug that should absolutely be illegal.”
Senators Push for a Kratom Ban on the Whole Plant
In March, eleven senators from both parties, led by Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), urged the FDA to ban the whole plant.
“Singling out 7-OH to schedule would leave these addictive products on the shelf and tacitly declare them safe for consumption,” the senators wrote.
In other words, banning only 7-OH would signal to consumers that everything else is safe. The senators pointed to popular kratom drinks that contain almost no 7-OH and would not be affected by the government’s current plan.
The other signers were Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Justice (R-WV), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
Where Federal Action Stands
In July, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced plans to place concentrated 7-OH in Schedule I, the same category as heroin. That ban has still not taken effect. In August, the DEA did ban three lab-made chemical cousins of 7-OH. Ordinary kratom has not been touched.
Questions About Industry Influence
Some kratom companies have supported banning 7-OH, which competes with their products. In August, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) opened an inquiry into one of them, Botanic Tonics, maker of the kratom drink “feel free.” The inquiry cites a reported financial stake in the company held by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who backed the 7-OH ban as a senator.
Wyden wrote that the industry “will flood gas stations and convenience stores with products that pique the curiosity of kids and teens and launch them into addiction.” In 2016, Wyden was among the senators who urged the DEA to drop an earlier attempt to ban kratom.
States Move Faster Toward a Kratom Ban
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds cited 45 confirmed kratom-associated deaths in her state since 2024. “Kratom is not a supplement, it is not a medicine, and it is not safe,” she said. “I do want to see a total ban.”
This week, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sued Botanic Tonics, alleging it “endangered the health and safety of Arizonans, including minors.” Massachusetts has banned kratom for one year after 107 deaths.
The senators ended their letter by pledging to address “the full scope of the rising danger of the kratom plant.” Six months later, the plant is still legal nationwide and still on the shelf.
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