Tennessee Passes "Matthew Davenport's Law" — Full Kratom Ban Takes Effect July 1, 2026

Why it matters

Tennessee has passed a comprehensive kratom ban covering all forms—natural leaf and synthetic—making it one of the largest states yet to prohibit the plant. Retailers will lose a legal market and users will need to seek alternatives, including treatment, starting July 1.

The big picture

Several states have moved to ban kratom in 2026 as concerns about high-potency derivatives and overdose deaths have intensified. Tennessee's ban is notably broad: unlike some states that specifically target synthetic 7-OH while allowing natural leaf, this law bans all kratom products. The bill is named after a Chattanooga man who died in 2024 after an adverse interaction between kratom and prescription medications.

Key findings

• Tennessee lawmakers passed Matthew Davenport's Law banning kratom in all forms—both natural and synthetic
• The ban goes into effect July 1, 2026
• The bill was named for Matthew Davenport, a Chattanooga man who died in 2024 from an adverse kratom-drug interaction
• Sponsor Sen. Todd Gardenhire called kratom products "gas station heroin," noting withdrawal symptoms akin to opioid addiction
• Some Democrats expressed concern that natural leaf kratom is different from synthetic derivatives, but the bill passed with overwhelming Republican support

What they say

"Natural does not mean safe," said Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga), the bill's Senate sponsor. Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) noted: "I think we're talking about a spectrum of drugs and we're referring to them all as kratom."

Bottom line

Tennessee becomes one of the largest states to enact a total kratom ban, with the law—named after a man who died from a kratom-drug interaction—taking effect July 1, 2026.