Philadelphia City Council Advances Kratom Licensing Bills Amid Smoke Shop Crackdown

Why it matters

Philadelphia's proposed licensing bills would effectively require smoke shops to obtain special permits to sell kratom and hemp-derived THC products, with age-21 restrictions — measures that kratom advocates argue constitute a de facto citywide ban.

The big picture

Cities across the U.S. are increasingly stepping into the regulatory vacuum left by federal inaction on kratom, particularly as concentrated 7-OH extract products surge in popularity. Philadelphia has seen a proliferation of unregulated smoke shops, prompting community complaints and multiple council proposals. Nationally, the tension between consumer access advocates and public health officials is intensifying as 7-OH extracts blur the line between herbal supplement and potent drug.

Key findings

• Philadelphia City Council held hearings in May 2026 on two bills targeting smoke shops selling kratom and hemp-derived products
• One bill would classify kratom and hemp-derived THC as "intoxicating substances" subject to special licensing and age-21 purchase restrictions
• A physician at UPenn Perelman School of Medicine testified about treating more than a dozen kratom addiction patients in two years, noting escalation from natural kratom to 7-OH extracts
• Kratom industry advocates argued the bill constitutes a de facto ban on all kratom, including natural leaf products
• A second bill would enable the city to cite landlords whose properties house unlicensed smoke shops
• Both bills advanced to a first reading before the full City Council

What they say

"These businesses fuel crime," said Councilmember Katherine Gilmore-Richardson. "They are putting profits over our safety."

Bottom line

Philadelphia advanced two bills in May 2026 that could effectively ban kratom sales citywide under a new licensing regime — setting up a pivotal legal and public health battle between patient advocates and city health officials.