Stateline examines diverging state approaches to kratom and concentrated 7-OH

Why it matters

The report documents how regulators are increasingly distinguishing traditional botanical kratom from concentrated 7-OH and semisynthetic products. That distinction affects retail rules, consumer information and the scope of future state and federal actions.

The big picture

State policy is shifting from a single question about kratom legality toward product-specific rules on concentration, age, labeling and synthetic derivatives. The story also notes that poison-center data do not reliably identify the type of kratom product involved, limiting product-specific conclusions from those reports.

Key findings

• At least 31 states regulate kratom in some form, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
• Lawmakers in 36 states introduced legislation addressing kratom, 7-OH or synthetic kratom compounds during the 2025 and 2026 sessions, according to the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
• Pennsylvania legislation under consideration would limit natural-leaf sales to people 21 and older while restricting synthetic or adulterated products and products over a 0.5% 7-OH threshold.
• The DEA temporarily placed mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and MGM-16 in Schedule I effective August 26, while its separate 7-OH action has not yet taken effect.
• The CDC exposure analysis cited in the report could not determine whether individual reports involved traditional leaf products or concentrated and semisynthetic formulations.

What they say

Dr. Alta DeRoo of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation said concentrated 7-OH is easier to become dependent on and can make withdrawal more dramatic.

Bottom line

Policy is increasingly differentiating traditional leaf kratom from higher-potency and chemically modified products, while important exposure-data gaps remain.