State Bans on Kratom Accelerate as Safety Debate Intensifies

In July 2026 Kansas and Tennessee banned the kratom alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). Idaho Falls approved a similar ban effective 1 July, and Iowa’s legislature passed a criminal-possession measure pending the governor’s signature. Eight states—Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin—already prohibit kratom, with proposals pending.

The Hill

Kratom, a plant from Southeast Asia, has been used for fatigue. Hospitalizations linked solely to kratom rose from 43 in 2015 to 538 in 2025, according to a University of Virginia study. Idaho recorded 47 kratom-related deaths (2021-2023) and four 2025 deaths from mitragynine. 7-OH can be up to 13 times more potent than morphine.

The Hill

Dr. Andrew Kolodny of Brandeis University warns kratom may increase opioid-use disorder. Mac Haddow, senior fellow of the American Kratom Association, argues harms are limited to synthetic 7-OH. New York Assembly member Phil Steck co-sponsored a bill banning 7-OH while allowing natural kratom with warnings. Idaho’s coroner described recent kratom deaths as a “wake-up call for our community.”

The Guardian

Kansas placed 7-OH in Schedule I. Tennessee’s “Matthew Davenport’s Law” makes kratom possession a misdemeanor and distribution a felony. HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy urged the DEA to schedule synthetic 7-OH. The FDA’s 2025 report recommended controlling only non-natural 7-OH. New York’s bill bans 7-OH but retains natural kratom with warning labels.

The Hill

The American Kratom Association says policymakers have been misled, labeling the claim that all kratom harms stem from 7-OH “deceptive.” Happy Hippo and Animal Farm donated over $34,000 to Idaho efforts (2024-2026). Kava Kava’s Facebook post warned bans threaten “kava and sober communities to access natural plant-based alternatives.”

The Guardian

Idaho officials attribute four 2025 deaths solely to mitragynine, while a University of Virginia study links the 2025 hospitalization surge to synthetic 7-OH variants. Dr. Kolodny stresses opioid-like effects of natural kratom; the American Kratom Association says no evidence that kratom alone caused fatalities. The relative impact of leaf-derived kratom versus synthetic 7-OH remains unresolved.

The Hill

• “I asked the guy who owns” Kava Kava “if it was addictive, and he said, ‘Absolutely not’”.” — Maizie Hepner, Iowa patron

The Guardian

• “This is a wake-up call for our community,” — Idaho coroner

The Guardian

• “It is increasing the prevalence of opioid use disorder,” — Dr. Andrew Kolodny, Brandeis University

The Guardian

• “I would not go out and say that you can use the so-called natural product to an unlimited extent, but the two products are substantially different,” — Phil Steck, New York Assembly

The Guardian

Missouri launched a statewide investigation into kratom and 7-OH. Two more states are expected to propose bans in the legislative session. Federal agencies are evaluating scheduling synthetic 7-OH under Schedule I, a move that could reshape the kratom market.

The Hill