Tennessee Becomes 8th State to Fully Ban Kratom Under Matthew Davenport's Law

Why it matters

Tennessee's full criminal ban on kratom and 7-OH, effective July 1, 2026, means users in the state face real legal consequences—including misdemeanor possession charges—and must plan for abrupt supply interruption if they are physically dependent.

The big picture

Tennessee joins Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Connecticut as the eighth U.S. state to criminalize kratom outright. The law is named for Matthew Davenport, a Chattanooga man whose family says he died after using kratom alongside other substances. Separately, the FDA has formally recommended to the DEA that concentrated 7-OH products be scheduled as Schedule I at the federal level.

Key findings

• HB1649/SB1656 (Matthew Davenport's Law) was signed by Governor Bill Lee on May 7, 2026 as Public Chapter 950.
• Kratom possession is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 11 months 29 days, up to $2,500 fine) effective July 1, 2026.
• Manufacture, delivery, or sale is a Class C felony (3 to 15 years, up to $10,000 fine).
• Sale to a minor is a Class B felony (8 to 30 years, up to $25,000 fine).
• The regulatory alternative HB2594—which would have capped 7-OH at 2% alkaloids and required product testing—did not advance.
• FDA recommended Schedule I designation for concentrated 7-OH products to the DEA in July 2025.

What they say

According to the bill's legislative record, the Tennessee Senate passed HB1649/SB1656 on April 16, 2026 with a vote of 23 ayes to 3 nays, having already cleared the House, before Governor Lee signed it into law.

Bottom line

**Tennessee's full criminal ban on kratom and 7-OH takes effect July 1, 2026, making it the eighth state to prohibit the substance outright and leaving dependent users with a fixed deadline to seek treatment.**