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Kratom regulation and safety in the United States

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-02 02:41 UTC → 2026-09-05 15:12 UTC · added removed

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. This lack of standard oversight has left much of the safety burden to industry self-regulation and voluntary third-party audits. 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 also increasing at intensifying in the state level. 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 Iowa, 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 have warned warning of dangers following 45 kratom-associated deaths since 2024. In Albany County, New York, an emergency public health order mandates that businesses remove kratom from shelves or face fines, while 2024, and Montana legislators are considering broader industry bans.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-05 15:12 UTC Kratom regulation and safety in the United States
  2. 2026-09-02 02:41 UTC Kratom regulation and safety in the United States
  3. 2026-08-31 19:18 UTC Kratom regulation and safety in the United States
  4. 2026-08-17 14:53 UTC Kratom regulation and safety in the United States

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