This supplement is being banned across the U S. What to know about synthetic kratom Los Angeles Times

The synthetic byproduct isn’t legal in dietary supplements or food products. Some of these souped-up products contain 109% to 509% more 7-OH than what’s naturally in the plant. 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.

Are there different types or strains?

Our 2026 state-by-state legality guide is updated as laws change. The FDA has stated repeatedly that 7-OH is not permitted in dietary supplements or conventional foods and that there are no FDA-approved drugs containing it. "Prohibition is not a public health strategy," Beckham said. The rule from JCARR replaces a temporary ban in an executive order signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in December. Some experts say it is 13 times more potent than morphine.

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Expanding State Bans

All information presented here is not a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Do not drive or use heavy machinery while using this product. Manufacturers & re-sellers assume no responsibility or liability for the use or misuse of this product.

Health and Safety

At the federal level, kratom is not a DEA-controlled substance, though the agency has weighed scheduling in the past. It’s a potent kratom alkaloid designed for careful, responsible use. It’s possible that a brick-and-mortar kratom shop will be able to provide test results for its kratom or some other benchmark to prove its quality, but it’s unlikely. At brick-and-mortar kratom shops, it’s a little trickier. “There should be product formulation limitations, there should be strict labeling requirements, and there should be age restrictions on the use of any kratom product.” Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are currently considering several bills that would ban or regulate kratom, including one drafted with the help of the American Kratom Association.

Governor DeWine is asking the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to ban all natural chemical compounds in kratom, including mitragynine, 7-OH, and the less common but more potent compound mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP). The FDA recently recommended that the kratom compound 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) be classified as an illegal drug under the Controlled Substances Act. “These modified kratom products, sold online and in stores, are essentially legal, over-the-counter opiates that anyone – including kids – can buy with just a few bucks,” said Governor DeWine. These synthetic kratom products, which are often sold in packaging designed to attract youth, have been found to cause psychosis, seizures, insomnia, hallucinations, and death.

Youth and Young Adult's Health

“Big kratom trade groups have spent years blaming 7-OH for harms caused by their own unregulated products, because it threatens their market share,” the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust stated in an emailed message. Regulators said the products violated FDA VR Kratom rules because they have not been evaluated for safety and, in some cases, claimed to treat medical conditions, including pain, arthritis and anxiety. Many of our promotions are automatic, just add eligible kratom products to your cart, and the savings will apply at checkout.