7-Hydroxymitragynine Legality: State-by-State Guide 2026

In 2022, the NIH released Wi Doc 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. I am a mother of 4 and have anxiety, depression, acute back pain, and I am an opioid addict. “Kratom is the one thing that has kept me from using opiates and other illegal substances. Susan Ash, the founder of the AKA, used kratom 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.

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Consult your healthcare professional before using. Live the product keep doing what ur doing Potential side effects of Kratom may include nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness. Botanicals can cause side effects if overused or misused or if you are sensitive to the ingredients. Some people find lower doses may support energy and focus, while higher strengths or dosing may impart a more calming relaxation.

• Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.
• Davenport, a nurse practitioner, had never heard of kratom until it appeared in her son’s toxicology report.
• Some people have had physical dependence while using kratom, which means their bodies come to rely on it.
• Although only present in small amounts in the leaves of kratom, 7-OH is produced by the body as a byproduct of mitragynine, the primary psychoactive alkaloid in kratom.
• “Without regulation, these bad actors push synthetic products onto the market without any legal or scientific justification,” Lowe said.
• It’s best to store all kratom and kava products away from children or pets.

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A temporary ban on Ohio kratom sales was created by an executive order from DeWine in December and was set to expire in June. “His brain was hijacked from kratom," Susie Bullard told JCARR. "He was shackled and bound to a toxic substance that children, adults, youth can purchase at a gas station and vape shops.” That athletes have turned to the plant is not surprising, said kratom researcher Christopher McCurdy. One former college wrestler called kratom a lifesaver that allowed him to compete without taking prescription pain medications for his neck and back injuries.

• The intended use of these products is for hemp derived products with THC less than 0.3% and or tobacco use.
• Intoxicating THC products and kratom will disappear from Tennessee store shelves at the end of the month, but hope for a Trump-backed psychedelic is on the horizon, all thanks to the Tennessee GOP.
• If you stop kratom suddenly, it could lead to withdrawal symptoms, which may be life-threatening.
• Our 2026 state-by-state legality guide is updated as laws change.
• They can help find a way to safely treat your pain with less addiction risk.

It is worth noting that states have generally considered several bills related to kratom in a single legislative session that offer different approaches to address the rising use of kratom and kratom-related products. Because of these effects and the ease with which the product can be purchased in retail settings, kratom has sometimes been referred to as “gas station heroin.” As concerns over the use of kratom continue to rise across the nation, the landscape of kratom policy has been evolving rapidly. Across the United States, state lawmakers are grappling with how—or whether—to regulate kratom, a plant-derived substance sold widely as powders, capsules, energy drinks, vapes, herbal supplements, and gummies in smoke shops, convenience stores, and online marketplaces. At the federal level, kratom is not a DEA-controlled substance, though the agency has weighed scheduling in the past. He said those products are not what the kratom community is about.

Kratom may interact with SSRIs, SNRIs, anti-psychotic medications, and other prescription drugs. “Retailers who use free samples and misleading marketing to hook consumers, especially those struggling with addiction, will face swift enforcement,” Hanaway said. Hanaway had alleged American Shaman advertised “free samples” of 7-OH despite its addictive nature, and frequently without disclosing the risk of addiction in its marketing. They’re going to figure out a new product,” said AG Hanaway.

There are limited data to describe long-term health hazards or optimal treatment for kratom users. Patients using kratom should be educated about the potential for dependence, addiction, and overdose. Many clinicians manage kratom dependence similarly to dependence of other opioids, using combinations of medications and behavioral interventions. Fatal opioid overdoses involving kratom increased from 0.5% of all opioid-related deaths in 2016 to 2% in 2022. Internationally, kratom is illegal in several European and Asian countries.