Walk into most gas stations, smoke shops, or convenience stores in the United States and you’ll likely find it on the shelf: kratom shots, kratom capsules, kratom powder in brightly colored packaging, often marketed as an “herbal supplement” or a “natural energy booster.” For years, it occupied a kind of legal gray zone — widely available, loosely regulated, and frequently sold without any age restriction.

That’s changing fast. And the reason it’s changing tells you a lot about what kratom actually is — and the risks that come with it.

What Exactly Is Kratom?

Kratom is derived from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia — particularly Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Indigenous communities in those countries have used kratom leaves for centuries, typically chewing them fresh or brewing them into tea to manage fatigue during physical labor or treat minor ailments.

In the United States, kratom products are sold in highly processed forms: powders, capsules, liquid shots, gummies, and vapes. The active compounds are two alkaloids — mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) — that bind to the brain’s opioid receptors.

At low doses, kratom produces stimulant effects: increased energy, alertness, reduced fatigue. At higher doses, it shifts to opioid-like sedation, pain relief, and euphoria. It’s this dual nature — stimulant at one end, opioid substitute at the other — that has made it popular, particularly among people trying to manage chronic pain or taper off prescription opioids.

The Problem: 7-OH and the New Generation of Kratom Products

Historically, most kratom products contained only trace amounts of 7-OH, the more potent of kratom’s two primary alkaloids. Natural 7-OH occurs at very low concentrations in the kratom leaf. But the kratom market has changed dramatically. A new generation of products — “Extra Strength” shots, concentrated extracts, and synthetically enhanced formulations — deliberately elevate 7-OH concentrations to levels that don’t exist in nature.

At higher concentrations, 7-OH acts like a powerful opioid. It produces intense sedation, euphoria, and respiratory depression — and it carries a significantly higher addiction potential. Regulatory agencies and public health officials have increasingly focused on these high-potency 7-OH products as a distinct and escalating public health concern.

The FDA reported in 2025 that kratom use has been linked to serious adverse events including liver toxicity, seizures, substance use disorders, and death. California authorities linked six overdose deaths in Los Angeles County specifically to kratom-derived and 7-OH products.

Why Are So Many States and Cities Moving to Ban It?

The policy picture is complicated — but it’s moving in one clear direction: away from the near-total absence of regulation that defined kratom’s early years in the US market.

Several states have enacted full bans. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Vermont, and Wisconsin were among the earliest to prohibit kratom entirely. Louisiana added itself to that list in August 2025, classifying kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance. Connecticut followed in March 2026. In the 2025–2026 legislative session, bills were introduced in Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, South Dakota, and Tennessee that would similarly prohibit kratom statewide.

At the local level, cities and counties have moved even faster. Spokane, Washington banned all kratom sales effective April 2026. Multiple cities in Massachusetts, Illinois, and Oregon have enacted local ordinances. California’s CDPH, working under food and drug law rather than a specific kratom statute, has conducted an aggressive statewide enforcement campaign that resulted in over 3,300 kratom products being pulled from shelves by early 2026 — and a May 2026 lawsuit against one of the state’s largest kratom manufacturers.

Not every jurisdiction is moving toward prohibition. Over a dozen states have adopted the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), which takes a regulatory rather than punitive approach: age minimums of 21, required lab testing, labeling standards, and retailer registration. Georgia, Florida, and Utah are among the states that have pursued this path. Rhode Island made history in 2025 by becoming the first state to reverse a kratom ban, replacing it with a regulated framework.

What Does This Mean for People Who Use Kratom?

The tightening legal landscape is creating a public health crunch. As access to kratom shrinks — through state bans, local ordinances, and enforcement campaigns — people who have become physically dependent on it face a difficult reality. They can’t simply stop using because the product is no longer on the shelf. Withdrawal is real, often intense, and can last days to weeks.

For people in states or cities where kratom is now banned or restricted, this is a moment that highlights a critical gap: the need for treatment specifically designed for kratom use disorder. Medical detox, clinical therapy, and evidence-based programming for kratom dependence isn’t optional — it’s urgent.

If you or someone you love is dependent on kratom and struggling to stop, professional treatment is the safest, most effective path forward. Withdrawal is manageable with the right support.