The Evolving Kratom Policy Landscape Rockefeller Institute of Government

“We treat kratom like a garbage can description,” McCurdy said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said poison centers have received a marked increase in the number of calls related to kratom, hitting a record high of 3,434 last year compared to 258 in 2015. But, without any scientific studies, McCurdy said kratom “should be used with a high degree of caution by athletes who have trained to be champions, not guinea pigs.”

In July 2025, the FDA formally recommended that the DEA place 7-hydroxymitragynine on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The short answer is that it depends on where you live and what type of product you're buying. Only mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, speciociliatine, and corynantheidine are currently known to be pharmacologically active. This product should be used only as directed on the label. This product is not for use by or sale to persons under the age of 18. It can also lead to psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and confusion, as well as dependence.

Will 7-hydroxymitragynine be scheduled as a controlled substance?

The synthetic byproduct isn’t legal in dietary supplements or food products. While 7-OH can be found naturally in kratom in small amounts, manufacturers have figured out how to supercharge it — boosting its concentrations in capsules, powders, liquids and edibles. That’s because kratom’s active ingredients — mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) — bind to the same brain receptors as morphine and alcohol, triggering a rush of dopamine, the body’s “feel good hormone.”

Previous CBS12 coverage of kratom concerns

But the substance is increasingly being used in foods, too. Lead poisoning is a lesser-known threat that can have irreversible negative health impacts on children. “It definitely has the potential to be more dangerous because it’s more potent and unregulated.” “In South America, people chew coca leaves (used to make cocaine) for a stimulant effect,” says Michael Moss, MD, the director of the Utah Poison Control Center.

Dosage for Beginners vs Experienced Users

The new NIH study means the government has come full The Bulk Kratom circle on kratom’s therapeutic potential. “Further, the unproven treatments could cause patients to forego or delay FDA-approved treatments for opioid addiction or withdrawal.” However, these products have not been determined by FDA to be safe and effective,” warned one letter. In 2022, the NIH released 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. If it becomes illegal, I fear we may never truly be able to study and treat ailments that kratom helps with,” wrote another survey respondent. I am a mother of 4 and have anxiety, depression, acute back pain, and I am an opioid addict.

The Times’ final top 25 high school baseball rankings for 2026

• Supporters say kratom can help with pain, energy and opioid withdrawal, but federal health officials and families who have lost loved ones have warned about risks including dependence, addiction, and death.
• Its widespread use in the NFL prompted a task force of physicians to recommend limiting its use, particularly as a means of reducing anticipated pain before games, because of the drug’s long-term side effects.
• The agency wants 7-OH classified as Schedule I, a category reserved for illicit drugs with no medical use and a high potential for abuse — alongside heroin and LSD.
• The substance, which is considered a “synthetic opioid,” has been bottled into drinks, powders and tablets that are sold at vape shops, gas stations and other stores across the country.
• “It is a laboratory-produced version that uses the active ingredient which is mitragynine and multiplies it in strength dramatically as much as a hundred times and it makes 7-OH basically an opioid like any other opioid,” said Steck.
• Consult your healthcare provider before using kratom products.

Public health experts remain divided over how far regulation should go. That designation would make the substance illegal nationwide. “(The governor) doesn’t understand the people he’s going to put out of work,” Ingram said. Several others, including Arizona, Colorado, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia, have implemented restrictions targeting high-potency formulations.

Avoid Products with Drug Claims

There’s currently no research into the effects of different strains of kratom. As with marijuana strains, different kratom strains have slightly different effects. The method of ingestion may influence kratom’s effects. In parts of Southeast Asia, people have been using kratom for centuries. The researchers also highlighted that kratom can have sedative effects. There’s currently very little research on kratom’s effects on mood.

• A formal rulemaking process, including a public comment period, is expected before any scheduling decision becomes final.
• When you shop with kratompoint you save!
• Pain News Network is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit online news service for information and commentary about chronic pain and pain management.
• The expiring emergency rule applies to concentrated 7-OH — a separate category from the whole-leaf powder and capsules most consumers purchase.
• Botanicals can cause side effects if overused or misused or if you are sensitive to the ingredients.

Experts warn that means they will have stronger effects — and a greater risk for addiction and harm. “That creates a dangerous, addictive cycle where kratom use increases the craving for more use,” Volpicelli said. Last year, the Tampa Bay Times uncovered more than 580 kratom-related deaths in Florida alone since 2013. A Washington Post analysis found kratom listed in at least 4,100 deaths from 2020 to 2022. Several states — including Alabama, Rhode Island and Wisconsin — have banned its sale and possession outright. Just weeks prior to his death, Brandon Clarke was arrested for possession of kratom.