Policy · 2026-06-23
Suffolk County NY Revises Kratom Bill to Target 7-OH Products Specifically, Not Leaf
Source: Newsday
Why it matters
After multiple rounds of public hearings, Suffolk County legislators dropped a proposed total kratom ban and instead revised the bill to prohibit only kratom products in pill, capsule, or liquid vial form -- mirroring the state legislature's approach of targeting concentrated 7-OH products rather than botanical kratom leaf.
The big picture
Suffolk County's legislative evolution -- from a blanket ban proposal to a more targeted product-form restriction -- reflects a growing regulatory consensus. Officials are drawing a line between traditional leaf kratom and the concentrated 7-OH products that have flooded the market in pill and liquid form. The county bill aligns with a state bill that passed both chambers targeting 7-OH, which was at the time still awaiting Governor Hochul's signature.
Key findings
- Suffolk County legislators revised their kratom ordinance after multiple public hearings to focus on pills, capsules, and liquid vials rather than banning leaf kratom
- The sponsor, Deputy Presiding Officer James Mazzarella, described the approach as 'pragmatic' versus an outright ban
- The bill mirrors a state law targeting 7-OH that passed the New York State Legislature unanimously
- Suffolk County's law would expand the state's definition to explicitly cover any kratom product in pill, capsule, or liquid vial form
- Governor Hochul had not yet signed the state 7-OH ban at the time of the county vote in June 2026
- The evolution from blanket ban to product-form restrictions came after testimony from dozens of residents and experts
What they say
"The legislature is trying to take a pragmatic approach as opposed to an outright ban," — Suffolk County Deputy Presiding Officer James Mazzarella, sponsor of the revised bill
Bottom line
Suffolk County's pivot from a total kratom ban to a targeted restriction on pill and liquid-vial kratom products illustrates how local governments are learning to separate botanical leaf kratom from the concentrated 7-OH products that carry the greatest risk.