California Kratom Crackdown Nets $5M in Seized Products But Leaves Online Sales Untouched

Why it matters

California has mounted the largest state enforcement action against kratom in U.S. history, but experts warn that easy online ordering and federal regulatory inaction could undermine the impact and potentially drive users toward illicit markets.

The big picture

California began cracking down on kratom and 7-OH in October 2025 when state health officials declared them illegal to sell. While retail compliance has reached 95%, federal scheduling of 7-OH remains in limbo eight months after the FDA submitted its formal scheduling request to the DEA.

Key findings

• Over $5 million worth of kratom and 7-OH products seized from California retailers since January 2026
• Only 61 violations reported out of 4,500+ licensed retailers visited
• Gov. Newsom claims 95% retail compliance with kratom removal from shelves
• The FDA now says it is not focused on natural kratom leaf products and only wants concentrated 7-OH banned
• The DEA has not yet ruled on the FDA's July 2025 recommendation to classify 7-OH as Schedule I
• A 2026 placebo-controlled trial of 116 healthy volunteers found natural kratom was well tolerated with no serious adverse events

What they say

"Moving 7-OH into Schedule I would not eliminate demand; it would displace it, shifting sales from regulated retail settings into illicit markets where potency is unverified, adulteration is common, and risks are far greater." -- Dr. Jeffrey Singer, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute

Bottom line

California's kratom crackdown has achieved significant retail compliance but faces limits from online sales and federal inaction, illustrating the challenge of a state-by-state approach to substances not yet federally scheduled.