South Carolina Kratom Scheduling Bill Stalls in Senate After Passing House 87-7

Why it matters

South Carolina's attempt to classify kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance — which would have banned it statewide — failed to advance before the legislative session ended, leaving the debate unresolved until next year.

The big picture

Kratom legislation is advancing across the country, with some states moving to ban while others enact consumer-protection frameworks. South Carolina's bill reflects a broader national tension between addiction medicine experts calling for outright bans and researchers who argue scheduling would create black markets and cut off access for people using kratom therapeutically. The state already passed a law in 2025 banning kratom sales to anyone under 21.

Key findings

• The South Carolina House passed HB5105 in an overwhelming 87-7 vote on April 29, 2026, to classify kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance
• The bill stalled in the Senate before the legislative session ended May 8, 2026; senators said they needed more information before acting
• Addiction medicine experts, including Dr. Suzanne Schwab (MUSC), pushed for Schedule I classification, citing kratom's intense addiction potential
• Kratom researcher Dr. Kirsten Smith, who has studied the substance for a decade, argued against scheduling, warning it would create a black market
• The legislative session has ended; the issue will be revisited next session

What they say

"It drives such a craving and addiction that's even more fierce than some of the illegal and standard opiates that we've been seeing on the street," said Dr. Suzanne Schwab, an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and addiction medicine lead. By contrast, Dr. Kirsten Smith stated: "Kratom and 7OH are not categorically dangerous. They have benefits and risks which require further study and regulation — they should not be scheduled."

Bottom line

South Carolina's kratom ban bill passed the House by a massive margin but died in the Senate, delaying statewide regulation until at least 2027.