Kratom ban update July 2026: where it’s legal vs. banned

If you’re using kratom or considering it, you’ve probably wondered: Is this even legal where I live? More importantly, is it safe?

Kratom’s legal status is changing rapidly across the United States, and for good reason. In the past year, state lawmakers have grown increasingly concerned about public safety as reports of liver toxicity, respiratory depression, and physical dependence continue to mount. And on July 1, 2026, the DEA took its biggest step yet: it moved to temporarily place high-concentration 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products in the same drug category as heroin.

Why is kratom banned?

What’s driving the kratom ban push? Many kratom products now contain unnaturally high levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a compound that is found naturally in kratom, but only in very small amounts. At the higher concentrations now common in gas station and smoke shop products, 7-OH acts like a powerful opioid, which can increase the risk of addiction, overdose, and other serious health effects. The FDA continues to warn consumers about these risks, including seizures and substance use disorder.

Here’s what’s happening: kratom bans have picked up speed since last year. Nine states now ban it outright, one state has reversed a ban in favor of regulation, and on July 1, 2026, the DEA moved to schedule concentrated 7-OH federally for the first time. Beyond outright bans, most states that still allow kratom have added their own guardrails: minimum purchase ages (usually 21+), caps on 7-OH concentration, mandatory lab testing, and clearer labeling. We break down exactly what’s changed state by state below.

At QuickMD, we help people every day who started using kratom or 7-OH for chronic pain or opioid withdrawal but found themselves struggling with dependence. Many discover that what they thought was a natural alternative has become harder to stop than expected, especially with today’s enhanced kratom and 7-OH products.

Whether you’re currently using kratom or 7-OH, trying to understand these legal changes, or looking for support to transition away from kratom use, we’ll walk you through exactly where things stand as of now and what safer alternatives exist.

Is kratom federally legal?

The federal picture changed in a real way on July 1, 2026. Until then, kratom had no federal scheduling at all.

Now, the DEA has filed formal notice that it intends to place 7-OH above a specified concentration threshold, along with three related synthetic compounds (mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16), into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the same category as heroin and LSD.

Here’s what that does and doesn’t cover: the action targets synthesized and concentrated 7-OH products, the kind sold as tablets, gummies, drink mixes, and shots, often with far higher 7-OH levels than the plant produces naturally. Natural, whole-leaf kratom below the threshold is not affected. The threshold the DEA proposed is 0.05% 7-OH by dry weight in botanical material, or 0.05% (by weight or volume) or more than 1 milligram of 7-OH in processed products like extracts and edibles.

The notices published in the Federal Register on July 6, 2026, and a 30-day waiting period is required by law before the DEA can issue the temporary scheduling order. That means the earliest the order could actually take effect is early August 2026. Once it does, it lasts two years, with a possible one-year extension, while the DEA pursues permanent scheduling. The Department of Health and Human Services is also collecting public comments on the proposed threshold through July 31, 2026.

This is the first time federal regulators have drawn a clear legal line between natural kratom leaf and the manufactured 7-OH products that have flooded convenience stores. It follows an FDA recommendation, made in July 2025, that concentrated 7-OH be scheduled, and it comes after DEA’s own toxicology program linked 7-OH to dozens of overdose cases, most of them fatal.

None of this changes the DEA’s stance on natural kratom leaf itself, which remains unscheduled. The agency attempted a broader, temporary Schedule I reclassification of kratom back in 2016, but reversed course after unprecedented public pushback: kratom organizations rallied at the White House, and more than 145,000 people signed a petition opposing the ban.

The FDA has never approved kratom for any medical use and states that: 

Kratom is not lawfully marketed as a dietary supplement and cannot be lawfully added to conventional foods…kratom is not lawfully marketed in the U.S. as a drug product, a dietary supplement, or a food additive…

A CDC report published in March 2026 shows how fast kratom and 7-OH use has escalated. Poison centers logged more than 14,000 kratom-related exposure reports over the past decade, but 2025 alone accounted for approximately 3,400 of them, a roughly 1,200% jump from 2015. Of the 233 kratom-associated deaths reported in that period, nearly 80% involved kratom combined with other substances, most often opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, or alcohol.

The rise of enhanced kratom products containing dangerous levels of 7-OH is exactly what’s driving both the new federal action and the wave of state bans below.

Where is kratom banned?

Even with new federal action underway, states remain the primary battleground for kratom regulation. The result is a confusing landscape where kratom might be legal in one state but completely banned in the neighboring one, or even legal statewide but prohibited in specific cities.

Which states have banned kratom?

As of July 2026, nine states have banned kratom outright: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Washington, D.C.’s kratom status is unclear. Current D.C. regulations list 7-hydroxymitragynine as a Schedule I controlled substance, but they do not appear to specifically address mitragynine or natural kratom leaf, per the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association’s state law tracker, and California doesn’t have an outright ban but has effectively blocked commercial sales through administrative action from its public health department.

Previously, Rhode Island had banned kratom outright. However, the state has since reversed its stance and passed a new law called the Rhode Island Kratom Act that regulates the production, sale, and distribution of kratom products. (We’ll discuss the state’s thought process behind this switch to regulation later.) 

More than half the states, plus the District of Columbia, now have some form of kratom regulation, though which states fall into that bucket keeps shifting as more move toward full bans.

Why states are implementing kratom bans and regulations

The American Kratom Association has been pushing for Kratom Consumer Protection Acts (KCPA) across the country, arguing that regulation is better than prohibition. But state lawmakers are increasingly motivated by different concerns, particularly reports of liver toxicity, respiratory depression, and physical dependence among kratom users.

Many state representatives have been contacted by families who’ve lost loved ones to kratom-related incidents, leading to legislation aimed at protecting consumers rather than simply expanding access.  These laws typically include age restrictions (usually 21+), testing requirements for heavy metals and contaminants, and labeling standards that reveal actual alkaloid content.

7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products driving kratom ban efforts

A major factor pushing states toward action is the rise of concentrated kratom products sold in convenience stores and smoke shops. Unlike traditional kratom leaves used in Southeast Asia, many commercial products now contain unnaturally high levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine. That’s the compound that acts like a potent opioid.

Local governments are also taking action. Even in states where kratom remains legal, cities and counties have implemented their own bans. For instance, kratom is legal throughout California but banned in San Diego, and legal in Colorado except in Denver, where it’s prohibited for human consumption, and, as of July 2026, banned for sale in Idaho Falls following a string of kratom-related overdose deaths reported by the local coroner.

This patchwork of laws creates confusion for kratom users. It makes it difficult to know what’s legal where you live, which is exactly why understanding the specific changes happening in 2026 is so important.

Want to learn more about 7-OH, kratom, and more? Check out our Learning Center for advice, insight, and tips on addiction.

These concerns about enhanced products have directly influenced the wave of new legislation we’ve seen this year. Here’s how individual states have responded.

2026 kratom and 7-OH ban updates

The legal landscape shifted dramatically across several key states in 2026. Here’s a look at the newest updates.

Virginia bans the sale of 7-OH

Virginia already regulated kratom sales under a 2023 consumer protection law, but a new law signed by Governor Abigail Spanberger on May 26, 2026, goes further. Effective July 1, 2026, retailers can no longer sell products containing concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), while natural kratom leaf stays legal for adults 21 and older.

Kratom must also be kept behind the counter or in a locked case, and every package needs a warning that it may cause dependence and opioid-like withdrawal. The bill followed testimony from a Virginia father whose son developed a kratom dependence after using it in college.

Tennessee bans kratom: Matthew Davenport’s Law

Tennessee’s ban took effect July 1, 2026. Governor Bill Lee signed House Bill 1649, known as Matthew Davenport’s Law, on May 7, 2026. It’s named for a 27-year-old Chattanooga man whose family testified before lawmakers about his death after taking kratom alongside a prescription medication. Under the law, knowing possession is a misdemeanor, and manufacturing or selling kratom is a felony. A competing bill that would have regulated kratom instead of banning it did not advance.

Kansas bans kratom

Governor Laura Kelly signed House Bill 2365 on April 10, 2026, classifying 7-OH as a Schedule I controlled substance, the same category as heroin. The ban took effect July 1, 2026, and enforcement began immediately, with retailers given until June 30 to remove products from shelves.

Ohio’s synthetic kratom ban becomes permanent

Ohio’s 180-day emergency ban on synthetic kratom and 7-OH products, issued by the state Board of Pharmacy in December 2025, became a permanent rule on May 19, 2026. Loose natural kratom leaf and powder remain legal, but the rule also captured capsules, drinks, and other processed natural-kratom products, a scope the American Kratom Association has publicly disputed. Governor Mike DeWine has continued to advocate for classifying all kratom compounds, natural and synthetic, as Schedule I, but that broader change hasn’t happened. 

Rhode Island reverses its kratom ban

While several states banned kratom, Rhode Island reversed its stance, becoming the first state ever to roll back a kratom ban. Lawmakers noted that the ban wasn’t effective and hadn’t stopped products from being sold illegally. The Rhode Island Kratom Act, signed in July 2025 and effective April 1, 2026, creates strict regulations focused on consumer safety: retailer licensing, a 21+ age requirement, and mandatory product testing, along with a continued ban on synthetic 7-OH.

Connecticut bans kratom

Connecticut’s ban took effect March 25, 2026. The path there was unusual: Governor Ned Lamont signed House Bill 6855, a hemp and cannabis regulation bill, in June 2025, which gave the Department of Consumer Protection authority to schedule kratom without a separate vote. The department’s Legislative Regulation Review Committee used that authority in February 2026, unanimously classifying kratom and its derivatives, including 7-OH, as Schedule I controlled substances, the same category as heroin.

New York kratom regulations

Governor Kathy Hochul signed two kratom bills into law on December 22, 2025: one banning kratom sales to anyone under 21, the other requiring warning labels and barring companies from marketing kratom as “all natural.” Enforcement is civil, not criminal, so adults 21 and older can still legally buy and possess kratom throughout most of the state. Some counties, including Nassau and Suffolk, have gone further with their own local restrictions.

California’s commercial kratom ban

California doesn’t have a statewide law banning kratom, but its public health department declared kratom and 7-OH products illegal to sell or manufacture, effective October 24, 2025. By March 2026, retailer compliance with that order had reached 95%, making California a de facto no-sale state even without new legislation from the statehouse.

Texas kratom ban 2026: strictest laws in the U.S.

Texas has adopted some of the country’s strictest regulations on concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products while continuing to regulate natural kratom separately. The state requires all products to pass lab testing for safety and strength. Sales to anyone under 21 aren’t allowed, and the law specifically targets gas stations and convenience stores, where untested kratom products have been widely sold.

Florida bans concentrated 7-OH

Florida’s kratom law didn’t come from the legislature. Attorney General James Uthmeier issued an emergency rule on August 13, 2025, that immediately classified isolated and concentrated 7-OH as a Schedule I controlled substance, the same category as heroin. Natural kratom leaf sold to adults 21 and older is still legal; it’s the extracted, high-potency 7-OH products, sold as tablets, gummies, and shots, that are now off the shelves. State agencies have since pulled nearly 18,000 products statewide.

A separate legislative effort to tighten kratom rules more broadly died in committee in June 2025, and the AG’s emergency rule itself is now facing a legal challenge from kratom retailers who argue it wasn’t properly enacted. On another note, Sarasota County has held a complete ban on kratom sale, use, and possession since 2014, and Manatee County is considering becoming the second Florida county to issue a complete ban.

Louisiana bans kratom

Louisiana’s kratom ban took effect August 1, 2025, classifying kratom as a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance. As of August 2025, it is illegal to use, manufacture, distribute, or possess kratom in Louisiana. Those who violate this law can face stiff penalties of up to five years in prison or fines up to $50,000. 

Colorado kratom regulations

Colorado’s Daniel Bregger Act, signed into law in May 2025, caps 7-OH at 2% of a product’s total alkaloid content, bans synthetic kratom, requires clearer labeling, and prohibits marketing kratom in ways that could appeal to children. It’s named for a Denver man who died in 2021 after combining a concentrated kratom extract with an over-the-counter sleep aid.

Mississippi kratom regulations

Mississippi’s Kratom Consumer Protection Act took effect July 1, 2025. It raised the minimum purchase age to 21, requires kratom to be sold behind the counter, and bans synthetic kratom extracts and products with high concentrations of 7-OH. More than 30 counties have gone further with their own local bans despite the statewide framework.

Georgia Kratom Consumer Protection Act: still active, but under threat

Georgia’s kratom law took effect January 1, 2025, after families who lost loved ones to kratom pushed for change. It requires kratom to be kept behind store counters and sets limits on how much of the active compounds can be in each serving.

Key provisions:

• Must be 21 to buy (up from 18)
• Products need clear serving size labels
• Can’t be used in vaping devices
• Penalties range from fines to felony charges for manufacturers who break safety rules

A 2026 bill, House Bill 968, would undo this framework and reclassify kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance instead. Lawmakers heard hours of testimony on the bill in February 2026, including from families who lost loved ones and from Georgia’s poison center, which has logged a 66% increase in kratom-related exposure calls since 2022. The bill hadn’t cleared either chamber as of July 2026.

States to watch: pending kratom legislation

Kratom laws in Pennsylvania: proposed regulations pending

Pennsylvania is in the process of introducing comprehensive kratom regulations that would prohibit selling kratom products to people under 21, ban harmful additives, and mandate detailed product labeling. Violations would begin with small fines, but the fines would increase for repeat offenses.

North Carolina kratom regulation: still unresolved

North Carolina lawmakers considered banning kratom entirely; that bill failed in April 2026. A separate bill, House Bill 468, would regulate kratom instead of banning it, raising the purchase age to 21 and requiring testing and labeling, but it has stalled in committee since June 2025. For now, kratom remains legal and largely unregulated in North Carolina.

South Carolina: regulation now at risk of rollback

South Carolina passed a Kratom Consumer Protection Act in 2025. Three bills introduced in the 2026 session would repeal that law and reclassify kratom alkaloids as controlled substances instead. As of this writing, the bills remain in committee.

More states prohibit sales of kratom products to anyone under 21 

You must be 21+ in order to purchase kratom in the following states:

• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• New York
• Oregon
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Virginia
• West Virginia

These state-by-state changes tell a story. What started as a plant-based supplement you could pick up at any gas station is now being regulated like like a controlled substance or age-restricted consumer product depending on the state. The days of unregulated kratom products are ending, and lawmakers are making it clear they see kratom as something that needs real oversight.

If you’ve been using kratom regularly, especially the stronger extracts, these legal changes might be worth paying attention to, and might signal it’s time to examine your own relationship with it.

Kratom dependence and withdrawal

These changing laws reflect a growing recognition that kratom isn’t the harmless herbal supplement many people thought it was. 

If you started using kratom to manage chronic pain or opioid withdrawal but now find yourself needing it just to feel normal, you’re not alone, and there are medically supervised alternatives that can help you quit.

Signs it might be time to get help:

• You need kratom every day to avoid feeling sick
• You’ve tried to stop but experienced anxiety, muscle aches, or nausea
• You’re using enhanced products or extracts to get the same effects
• You’re worried about the legal changes affecting your access

There’s a safer path forward. At QuickMD, we help people every day transition from kratom dependence to medically supervised treatment that’s both safer and more effective for long-term recovery.

Suboxone® for kratom withdrawal

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a clinically proven approach that integrates FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies. 

Suboxone® (buprenorphine-naloxone) is among the most effective treatments, helping reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms while supporting long-term recovery.

• How Suboxone® helps: Unlike kratom products with unpredictable potency, Suboxone® provides consistent, medically supervised relief from withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It’s highly effective for traditional opioids, but also works for treating dependence on substances like kratom.
• The difference: Instead of relying on unregulated products from gas stations or convenience stores with unknown alkaloid content, you get FDA-approved medication prescribed by licensed doctors who understand addiction medicine.
• Getting started is simple: You can get a same-day appointment. We know it takes courage to ask for help. Our doctors won’t judge you, they’re just here to support you.
  

Whether the legal changes have you worried about access, you’ve realized kratom has become harder to stop than you expected, or you’re just ready to try something safer, we’re here to help you take that next step.

What we offer:

• Evidence-based, doctor-recommended care.
• Personalized and non-judgmental support.
• Affordable and proven care to support recovery.
• Simple online booking with same-day availability.
• Available 7 days a week with licensed doctors.

Frequently asked questions about kratom bans

Can I travel with kratom between states?

Traveling with kratom can put you at serious legal risk, even if it’s legal where you live. If you’re flying or driving through a state where kratom is banned (like Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Vermont, or Wisconsin), you could face criminal charges for possession.

Do employers test for kratom use?

Yes, some employers test for kratom, especially for safety-sensitive jobs in transportation, healthcare, and law enforcement. 

While kratom doesn’t show up on standard drug panels, specialized tests can detect mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine for several days after use. Some employers in states considering kratom bans may have updated their drug policies to include kratom testing.

What should I do if I’m using kratom and my state is considering a ban?

If your state is moving toward prohibition, this might be the right time to consider transitioning to medically supervised treatment. Waiting until kratom becomes illegal can leave you facing withdrawal symptoms without legal alternatives. Working with addiction medicine specialists before a ban takes effect allows for a smoother transition to FDA-approved medications. 

Don’t wait until you’re in crisis. Reach out to providers experienced in kratom dependence who can help you develop a plan that works for your situation.