Philly legislation would crack down on smoke shops that sell unregulated kratom and hemp-derived products

It gives you a whole different view about the meaning of your work and makes you question some of the sort of absolutism that's in our drug regulatory structure, versus what the state of our health system is in reality. But we have a very complicated healthcare system now, and people are hurting, and there are gaps in access to care. In an ideal world, kratom powder would be a well-regulated drug. I think, overall, people look at me and they say, "Dave, you're a pharmacologist who is with a major academic medical center. Why are you even giving voice to consumers who want to use kratom powder?"

It’s All About the Plants

“It’s still an opioid and can cause tolerance, dependence, and addiction.” “Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s safe,” Moss says. While six states have banned the plant, four states (including Utah) have created regulations under the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). Kratom is often marketed as a natural remedy—but that doesn’t mean it’s safe. The drug is popular, particularly among the college crowd, but can have a number of serious side effects, including liver toxicity and seizures. According to the FDA, “7-OH is increasingly recognized as having the potential for abuse because of its ability to bind to opioid receptors.”

• 7-0H, or 7-Hydroxymitragynine, is a semi-synthetic compound extracted from Kratom leaves.
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• High doses of kratom (5-15 grams) have effects similar to opioids and sedatives.
• The FDA and HHS announced a call to action against 7-OH products in a press conference on Tuesday, where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described its growing availability and the weight of addiction on the American people.
• The FDA “demonstrated the exact kind of data-driven, proactive regulatory excellence needed to safeguard unwitting consumers across the U.S.,” said Ryan Niddel of Diversified Botanics, a Utah-based company that sells kratom supplements.

Brandon Clarke said it’s ‘just kratom.’ His death has the substance under scrutiny.

Now, no one is going to ever ingest 3 grams of leaf powder – the leaves are very bitter, like most alkaloids are. The powdered leaf is about 1% mitragynine and maybe, at most, 0.1% 7-OH. Is it different between 7-OH and powdered kratom capsules?

Early studies suggest that kratom may have potential as an antidepressant and a hunger suppressant. Although kratom targets opioid receptors just like morphine and codeine do, it is considered an atypical opioid. Kratom may be effective for easing chronic pain, as it works by attaching to opioid receptors. It may help relieve pain, make you feel relaxed, reduce anxiety, or make you feel confused. But in high doses, it can relieve pain like opioids do. Experts consider kratom an opioid-like substance because it affects your brain's opioid receptors.

In the same botanical family as coffee, kratom has been used for centuries in Southeast Asia. “Sir, it’s all legal,” Clarke’s deep voice called out with calm certainty in an exchange captured by the cruiser’s dashcam and obtained by The Athletic. 7-OH also has a high potential for abuse, according to the suit. It comes about two months after Paxton sued North Texas kratom retailers operating under the name Smokey's Paradise in Midlothian. "I will not allow California-based companies to illegally ship their potentially deadly substances into Texas," Paxton wrote in a statement. Our free newsletters deliver Memphis straight to your inbox.

When should I enjoy feel free CLASSIC?

But does there remain some nuance to have in the conversation around regular powdered kratom in your view? That’s why you’re starting to see laws like Colorado’s and the FDA recommendation to place 7-OH on the Schedule I drug list. It's in this weird, limbo area, and so drug regulators have tried to deal with it here and in other countries.

In July, the FDA recommended that the synthetic ingredient 7-OH, not the plant itself, be placed on the federal government’s restrictive list of illegal drugs. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. At Kats Botanicals, we set the standard with all-natural plant-based power to the people! “Big kratom trade groups have spent years blaming 7-OH for harms caused by their own unregulated products, because it threatens their market share,” the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust stated in an emailed message. Regulators said the products violated FDA rules because they have not been evaluated for safety and, in some cases, claimed to treat medical conditions, including pain, arthritis and anxiety.

Why Real Botanicals?

Tennessee’s ban under “Matthew Davenport’s Law” (HB 1649) takes effect July 1, 2026, prohibiting kratom statewide, including powder, capsules, and extracts. Mix and match any natural-leaf strains in a 5-kilo bulk nraes bundle — the best value for regular buyers who want to lock in current pricing. Our flagship red-vein Maeng Da — a bold, full-bodied natural-leaf powder and capsule favorite, lab-tested and freshly milled. For ongoing coverage of regulatory developments like these, the latest kratom news is worth bookmarking. The expiring emergency rule applies to concentrated 7-OH — a separate category from the whole-leaf powder and capsules most consumers purchase.