Ulster County, NY Weighs Ban on High-Concentration 7-OH Kratom Products

Why it matters

The proposal shows how kratom restrictions are spreading beyond state legislatures to county governments across New York, adding to a patchwork of local rules retailers and consumers must navigate.

The big picture

Kratom itself is not federally scheduled, but a growing number of New York counties, including Oneida, Albany, Suffolk, Nassau and neighboring Dutchess, have passed local bans targeting synthetic or high-concentration 7-OH products sold at gas stations and smoke shops.

Key findings

• The proposed Ulster County law targets products with 7-OH concentrations exceeding 2% of total alkaloids or 1 milligram per serving.
• Violators would face civil penalties up to $1,500 for a first offense and $3,000 for later violations within 36 months, with an added $500 penalty for sales to people under 21.
• Ulster County's health director reported one kratom-involved death this year and another where kratom was one of several drugs present, plus one such death in 2025.
• The CDC reported 233 kratom-assisted deaths nationwide from 2015-2025, with 184 involving other drugs, most often opioids.
• National poison center reports of kratom exposure rose roughly 1,200% between 2015 and 2025, reaching 3,434 reports in 2025.

What they say

"People think if you can buy it at convenience stores, it's got to be safe," said Legislator William Murray, D-New Paltz, the bill's lead sponsor. "It can be very addictive and in higher concentrations you can overdose on it."

Bottom line

**Local governments in New York are moving faster than the state legislature to restrict high-concentration 7-OH kratom products, following a template already adopted by several neighboring counties.**