South Carolina Lawmakers Advance Bill to Ban Kratom Entirely, Reclassifying It as Schedule I

Why it matters

South Carolina already regulates kratom under a 2025 law restricting sales to adults 21 and older; this bill would go further by classifying kratom alongside heroin and LSD, making possession illegal and eliminating access for thousands of current users who say it helps them manage pain and opioid addiction.

The big picture

At least six states have now enacted full kratom bans. South Carolina passed consumer protection legislation in 2025 restricting kratom sales to adults over 21, but some lawmakers and law enforcement officials are pushing for full prohibition. The state Department of Behavioral Health has specifically warned about the synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine compound found in some products.

Key findings

• A House subcommittee advanced the bill to reclassify kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance in South Carolina
• Schedule I status would make kratom illegal to possess or distribute—the same classification as heroin and LSD
• South Carolina enacted a 2025 law requiring buyers to be 21+, banning synthetic kratom compounds, and mandating clearer packaging
• Law enforcement cited chemical dependency problems and worsening outcomes since kratom arrived in stores
• Kratom users testified against the bill, saying it helps manage chronic pain and opioid addiction with fewer side effects than prescription medications

What they say

"Whenever kratom hit the street, we immediately saw issues," said JJ Jones with the South Carolina Police Chiefs Association. "We saw people that a lot of times had chemical dependency problems flocking to it."

Bottom line

South Carolina's House subcommittee has advanced a full kratom ban bill that would make possession illegal, setting up a clash between law enforcement calling it dangerous and thousands of users who rely on it for pain management.