Pennsylvania Senator Backs DEA 7-OH Scheduling, Pushes State Kratom Consumer Protection Act

Why it matters

Pennsylvania has 13 million residents and a significant opioid crisis history. A state-level Kratom Consumer Protection Act would ban under-21 sales and prohibit unsafe additives — filling gaps the DEA's federal scheduling action does not cover at the local enforcement level.

The big picture

The DEA's July 1, 2026, announcement to temporarily place 7-OH in Schedule I applies nationally but does not automatically give state and local police enforcement authority. Pennsylvania would still need its own scheduling action or legislation for routine enforcement. Sen. Pennycuick's bill passed the PA Senate Health Committee in 2025 and is awaiting full chamber action.

Key findings

• Sen. Tracy Pennycuick applauded the DEA's decision to temporarily classify 7-OH as Schedule I for up to three years
• Her Kratom Consumer Protection Act (SB 233) bans kratom sales to anyone under 21 and prohibits products with unsafe additives
• Federal scheduling alone does not give Pennsylvania state and local police authority to enforce; state legislation is still needed
• The PA Department of Health can temporarily schedule substances through the Pennsylvania Bulletin for imminent public-safety hazards
• Emergency room visits linked to high-concentration 7-OH products have been rising in Pennsylvania
• Products containing semisynthetic 7-OH have no FDA approval and no accepted medical use

What they say

"Synthetic kratom has become a fast-growing, unregulated market that poses serious risks to consumers," said Sen. Pennycuick. "As emergency room visits linked to these products continue to rise, we need to act now to protect young people and other consumers from the dangers of synthetic kratom."

Bottom line

**Pennsylvania's pending Kratom Consumer Protection Act would close enforcement gaps left by DEA's federal scheduling order, and its passage would represent a model for states seeking to regulate rather than outright ban kratom products.**