Wyoming Senate Advances Bill to Outright Ban Kratom Following Confirmed Deaths and Suicides

Why it matters

Wyoming is poised to become one of the strictest states on kratom, moving toward a full prohibition after local coroners confirmed at least 9 kratom-involved deaths from 2022–2024 — including cases where kratom was the only substance found.

The big picture

Kratom is currently unregulated in Wyoming, allowing it to be sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores with no age restriction or dosage labeling. As of April 2025, 24 states and D.C. had enacted some form of kratom regulation, but only 6 states plus D.C. have declared kratom a controlled substance. Wyoming's bill, if enacted, would align it with the most restrictive category.

Key findings

• Wyoming coroners confirmed kratom present in 9 deaths from 2022–2024; in 3 cases it was the only substance detected
• The Senate Judiciary Committee passed an amendment converting a regulatory bill (SF 56) into an outright prohibition
• Fremont County Coroner reported 2 kratom deaths in a single month in August 2025, and said it could be sold to 10-year-olds under current law
• The proposed ban would also cover tianeptine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a far more potent kratom derivative
• Penalties set at up to $750 — on par with Wyoming marijuana paraphernalia fines — plus $500,000 for testing equipment

What they say

According to Sen. Bill Landen (R-Casper), "The more I read, the more that I find out across our state, I wonder if we don't want to ban this substance altogether. Our first duty is to protect."

Bottom line

Wyoming's Senate Judiciary Committee has amended a kratom regulation bill into a full prohibition after coroners confirmed multiple deaths, putting the state on track to join a small group that have banned kratom entirely.