# Kratom regulation and safety in the United States

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kratom-regulation-and-safety-in-the-united-states
> Updated: 2026-09-05T05:00:00.000Z. Sources: 21. Developments: 4.

Kratom occupies a complex regulatory position in the United States. While the FDA has not scheduled the botanical product, it has stated that no kratom-containing products are legally marketed as prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or dietary supplements.

Research from the University of Florida indicates that many commercially available products are frequently mislabeled. There is growing concern regarding the rise of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a potent derivative that can exceed the potency of morphine. This shift in composition has coincided with a 67.8 percent increase in reported kratom or 7-OH poisoning symptoms at U.S. poison centers over the past year.

In response to the rise of concentrated opioid products, the U.S. Department of Justice and the DEA have issued a two-year emergency ban on three potent kratom-related compounds: mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), MGM-15, and MGM-16. These have been classified as Schedule I controlled substances, noted for having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the action targets “deliberately manufactured and concentrated opioid products rather than traditional botanical kratom,” noting that enforcement discretion may be used regarding incidental trace amounts of MGPI found in botanical products.

Regulatory pressure is intensifying in the Northeast. Following an emergency public health order in Albany County, New York, families in Rensselaer County are advocating for local bans, citing fatal consequences and deceptive health claims in convenience stores. In Pennsylvania, pending legislation in both the House and Senate seeks to regulate the substance rather than criminalize it, with proposals to ban concentrated 7-OH and synthetic versions, prohibit sales to those under 21, and mandate labels warning of opioid-like effects. Other regional pressures include Iowa officials warning of dangers following 45 kratom-associated deaths since 2024, and Montana legislators considering broader industry bans.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-05: Kratom regulation debates intensify in Pennsylvania and New York

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and grieving families in New York are pushing for stricter controls or bans on kratom due to concerns over its opioid-like effects and potential for overdose.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kratom-regulation-debates-intensify-in-pennsylvania-and-new-york

### 2026-08-31: U.S. Department of Justice bans three kratom derivatives

The U.S. Department of Justice has emergency-scheduled three potent kratom derivatives as Schedule I substances due to their high potential for abuse and opioid-like effects.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-department-of-justice-bans-three-kratom-derivatives

### 2026-08-16: Kratom products frequently mislabeled and increasingly potent, studies find

Studies and medical reports reveal that many kratom products are mislabeled and increasingly contain potent synthetic derivatives like 7-OH, leading to rising poisoning rates and acute withdrawal.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kratom-products-frequently-mislabeled-and-increasingly-potent-studies-find

### 2026-08-12: Kratom regulation and consumer safety in the United States

Kratom occupies a regulatory middle ground in the US, lacking FDA dietary supplement oversight and relying heavily on industry self-regulation and consumer vigilance regarding testing and labeling.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kratom-regulation-and-consumer-safety-in-the-united-states

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Cite as: Kratom regulation and safety in the United States. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kratom-regulation-and-safety-in-the-united-states