Tennessee Bans Kratom Under Matthew Davenport's Law, Effective July 1, 2026

Why it matters

Tennessee's outright ban on kratom — including all forms of mitragynine and 7-OH — takes effect July 1, 2026, affecting an estimated hundreds of thousands of daily users in the state who have been purchasing it legally at gas stations and smoke shops. Abrupt cessation without medical planning carries real withdrawal risk for dependent users.

The big picture

Tennessee's HB1649, named Matthew Davenport's Law after a Chattanooga man who died in 2024 from a fatal kratom-drug interaction, makes kratom illegal to possess, sell, manufacture, or distribute. It represents one of the stricter state-level approaches, rejecting the regulatory model backed by the American Kratom Association in favor of a full ban. The law adds Tennessee to a small group of states that have banned kratom entirely, while other states are pursuing age restrictions and consumer protection regulations instead.

Key findings

• Tennessee HB1649 (Matthew Davenport's Law) makes kratom illegal to possess, sell, or distribute effective July 1, 2026.
• The ban covers all forms of kratom — powder, capsules, gummies, liquid shots, extracts — and both mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
• Simple possession is classified as a Class A misdemeanor; selling to a minor is a Class B felony.
• The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has stated it intends to enforce the law actively.
• A 2026 CDC report found kratom-associated poison control calls rose 1,200% from 2015 to 2025, with 233 associated deaths reported over that period.
• The legislation was championed by the mother of Matthew Davenport, a nurse practitioner whose son died from a kratom-medication interaction.

What they say

"Once you're addicted, you may as well get on your hands and knees and attempt to climb Mount Everest, because it is that difficult and challenging," said Dean Francis, father of a Chattanooga man who became dependent on kratom. "You lose years of your life."

Bottom line

Tennessee's full kratom ban, effective July 1, 2026, is one of the strictest in the country and leaves dependent users with little time to plan a safe transition off the substance.