Pennsylvania Kratom Sales Under Scrutiny as DEA 7-OH Schedule I Placement Takes Effect

Why it matters

As of August 5, high-potency 7-OH kratom products are classified as Schedule I controlled substances under federal law and can no longer be sold legally anywhere in the US. Pennsylvania's attorney general is warning retailers to clear those products or face enforcement action.

The big picture

Pennsylvania has no dedicated state kratom law, but the DEA's federal action now covers the most potent and widely sold kratom-derived products. Natural kratom leaf remains unscheduled under federal law, leaving a patchwork of products in legal limbo. Cambria County alone investigated 6 kratom-related deaths since 2019, and the state documented 38 kratom-related fatalities in 2024. Two bills addressing kratom have been introduced repeatedly in the Pennsylvania legislature for over a decade without passing.

Key findings

• The DEA's temporary Schedule I placement of high-potency 7-OH products took effect August 5, 2026
• Pennsylvania AG Dave Sunday warned retailers to remove noncompliant products or face legal consequences
• The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 38 kratom-involved deaths in 2024
• Cambria County coroner investigated 6 kratom-linked deaths since 2019
• Estimated 1 to 3 million Americans use kratom annually; lifetime use estimated at 10 to 13 million
• Natural kratom leaf products remain federally unscheduled, creating enforcement complexity
• Two bills targeting kratom have circulated in the PA legislature for over a decade without passage

What they say

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said: "They should make sure they take the time to figure out if what they're selling is lawful or not. My hope is that people selling illegal products remove them from their shelves — or someone else may remove them for them."

Bottom line

High-potency kratom extracts are now federally illegal as of August 5, and Pennsylvania's attorney general is signaling enforcement — but without a state kratom law, oversight of natural leaf products remains uncertain.