CDPH Warns Retailers and Public About the Dangers of Kratom-derived Products and 7-OH

That’s partly because kratom’s relative newness makes it undetectable in standard drug testing. “It’s caused overdose, death, sickness, hospital visits from people thinking that this is marketed as an energy drink or something to help you with aches and pains,” said FitzGerald. Derived from the kratom tree, the drug has a long history in places like Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. Boston could soon join a growing list of Massachusetts communities that have moved to regulate kratom, a psychoactive substance native to Southeast Asia that has gained popularity in the U.S. Stay up-to-date on the biggest health and wellness news with our weekly recap. "They’re marketed for children," RFK commented on the products at vape shops.

• Tennessee now joins about eight other states in banning kratom entirely, including its natural form.
• At Real Botanicals, our 7-OH products use extraction methods to concentrate alkaloids while preserving their natural integrity.
• We exclusively partner with the top industry brands to ensure we offer only exceptional kratom products designed to meet the wide-ranging needs of our customers.

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. SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The California Department of Public Health is sounding the alarm on Kratom, as well as a potent derivative of the plant called 7-OH. “We want to save as many people from this evil substance,” said Democratic state Assemblyman Phil Steck.

Take your health to the next level with functional mushroom gummies. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is a public policy think tank that conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and policy analysis. The Rockefeller Institute will continue to monitor the kratom policy landscape as it evolves. Some variations of these kratom consumer protection acts have been introduced this session in states like Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wyoming. Though several kratom bills were considered this session by the Florida legislature, their session ended in March without any of the pending bills being passed that would have maintained the status of 7-OH. Florida implemented their scheduling of 7-OH concentrated at a level of 1 percent by an August 2025 emergency order by the attorney general, not legislative action, and that ban is set to expire June 30, 2026.

The chemical, known as 7- hydroxymitragynine, is a component of kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia that has gained popularity in the U.S. as an unapproved treatment for pain, anxiety and drug dependence. Current law regulates the sale of natural kratom while maintaining the ban on synthetic alkaloids. According to recent news, Florida’s AG Attorney General banned concentrated 7-OH products, although kratom remains mostly legal.

Kratom is what?

OPIA offers 7-Hydroxymitragynine in the form of chewable tablets and shots, these kratom products come in delicious flavors such as blueberry lemonade, Strawberry Watermelon and mintopia. It's best to store all kratom and kava products away from children or pets. It's important to check local regulations before purchasing or consuming Kratom products. Interested in more 7-hydroxymitragynine products (also known as 7 Hydro)? As with all kratom products, do not exceed Kratom Events dosing recommendations.

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Real Botanicals offers 7-OH Tablets for sale in 10mg and 20mg options, plus 7-OH Shots at 30mg. Any 7-OH product claiming to treat, cure, or prevent disease is making illegal claims regardless of what's inside. Synthetic and semi-synthetic 7-OH faces the strictest scrutiny. We extract from kratom, not a chemistry set.

Physical shops often mark up their prices since they buy at wholesale rates, but when you shop online, you can usually get better deals. If you’re thinking about buying kratom, ordering online is definitely the way to go. Your essential daily newsletter delivering trusted news, local insights, ways to connect, and can't miss programs from Boston and beyond. FitzGerald said he hopes that if Boston adds its name to the kratom regulation list, it will help prompt state action.

FAQs About Kratom Dosage

St. Charles County and Kansas City are among the half-dozen other places in Missouri that have approved restrictions and regulations on kratom. Some addiction support groups said the move is a step in the right direction but not enough. “For the sale of these things, they have to be behind the counter and out of the reach of anyone in the store,” said Police Chief Sean Fagan. “After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught flat-footed again.” A national ban wouldn’t kick in until new rules are drafted and finalized. Next up, the DEA will review 7-OH and decide whether to officially label it an illicit drug.

Natural kratom leaf is naturally dominant in mitragynine, with 7-OH present only in trace amounts. The flagged products included tablets, gummies, drink mixes, and shots — formats the agency says are sometimes disguised or marketed as ordinary kratom even though they deliver a far more potent, concentrated compound. Food and Drug Administration, which issued warning letters to seven companies for illegally distributing products containing concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). The Board of Pharmacy is considering extending the ban to natural kratom too. The permanent ban on synthetic kratom comes from a rule set by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, known as JCARR, following a hearing in April.

According to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who’s launching a federal crackdown on 7-OH — the synthetic byproduct of the kratom plant — it’s dangerous. Current federal and state actions specifically target concentrated 7-OH products, not natural kratom leaf. For example, Tennessee has explicitly banned synthetic alkaloids while permitting natural plant products. Despite their wide availability, kratom-derived and 7-OH products are not legally approved for sale for consumption online or in stores and are often misleadingly labeled and promoted as “safer" alternatives to opioids for the relief of pain and other issues. Most states regulate whole-leaf kratom through Kratom Consumer Protection Acts that set a 21+ age minimum, require accurate labeling, and prohibit adulterated or synthetic 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.