Policy · 2026-03-04
L.A. County Kratom Ban Leaves Chronic Pain and Opioid Recovery Patients Without Access
Source: Los Angeles Times
Why it matters
Los Angeles County's November kratom sales ban has left many residents who relied on the plant for chronic pain management and opioid withdrawal support scrambling for alternatives — some turning to black markets or online orders from other states.
The big picture
L.A. County halted all kratom and 7-OH sales following a cluster of overdose deaths, but toxicologists have questioned whether kratom alone caused those deaths. California Gov. Newsom announced a 95% business compliance rate with a separate statewide removal campaign that pulled over 3,300 products from shelves. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors is still weighing whether to enact a full ban or a regulatory framework.
Key findings
- L.A. County banned kratom and 7-OH sales in November 2025 after linking six deaths to the substances, though experts say other drugs were often involved
- County inspectors conducted 2,696 inspections between November and January, finding 352 locations still selling kratom; only nine were subject to product impoundment
- California identified 362 kratom-related overdose deaths statewide between 2019 and 2023, a figure critics say conflates kratom with other poly-substance use
- Patients who used kratom for chronic pain or opioid withdrawal now report turning to online orders from out-of-state vendors or informal markets
- Gov. Newsom separately announced 95% retailer compliance with a state product-removal directive, with over $5M worth of kratom and 7-OH seized
What they say
Prohibition is not a public health strategy — it is only going to make things worse, likely resulting in an entirely new health crisis for Californians, said Jackie Subeck, executive director of 7-Hope Alliance.
Bottom line
L.A.'s kratom ban may be reducing overdose risk for some users while simultaneously cutting off a harm-reduction tool for chronic pain patients and people managing opioid withdrawal — and the evidence that kratom alone caused recent deaths remains disputed.