California Launches Largest-Ever Kratom Crackdown After String of Deaths

Why it matters

Governor Newsom's administration has declared kratom and 7-OH illegal and is actively clearing them from retail shelves statewide—a shift that could reshape market access for millions of Californians who use these products.

The big picture

California is the most populous U.S. state and a bellwether for national drug policy. After a wave of overdose deaths linked to high-potency 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products—a kratom-derived compound sold in gas stations and smoke shops—state officials launched a coordinated removal campaign in January 2026. The move follows FDA warning letters issued in July 2025 targeting 7-OH manufacturers.

Key findings

• Governor Newsom's administration declared kratom and 7-OH products illegal and began active retail enforcement in January 2026
• The California Department of Public Health and other agencies are sweeping products from store shelves across the state
• Customers report finding products gone overnight without prior warning, creating supply disruptions for dependent users
• California linked a string of fatal overdoses to kratom and 7-OH products in 2025
• Advocates warn abrupt removal creates public safety risks for people who have come to depend on these products and may turn to unregulated sources

What they say

"For consumers, this has meant walking into stores to purchase products they depend on and finding them gone overnight, without warning or notice. Abrupt removal like this creates real risk," said Jackie Subeck, executive director of the 7-HOPE Alliance.

Bottom line

California has launched its most aggressive kratom and 7-OH crackdown in state history, with products disappearing from retail shelves and advocates warning the sudden supply disruption poses its own public health risks.