What is kratom, and why is Boston considering a crackdown on the drug?

Athletes, team executives and training staff in the NFL, NBA and MLB told The Athletic they had never heard of kratom or did not believe it was commonly used. “I look fit and super healthy, so people would be surprised that this was an issue,” he said. Last month, he tried to kick kratom a second time using Ibogaine and said he’s feeling hopeful it will stick. He started taking kratom capsules regularly five years ago and then two years ago turned to a kratom drink called Feel Free. Industry insiders and kratom critics say they are closely watching the medical examiner’s findings.

“These modified kratom products, sold online and in stores, are essentially legal, over-the-counter opiates that anyone – including kids – can buy with just a few bucks,” said Governor DeWine. Real Botanicals remains committed to providing safe, lab-tested, naturally extracted 7-OH products in compliance with state and federal law. Whole-leaf kratom powder and full-spectrum extracts with natural alkaloid ratios generally remain legal in locations where kratom itself is permitted. Products derived through natural extraction from kratom plant material occupy safer legal ground in most jurisdictions. This approach keeps our products aligned with the regulatory distinction between natural and synthetic, while delivering the potency experienced users seek. When you consume whole-leaf kratom powder or a full-spectrum extract, you're getting 7-OH as nature intended, balanced with mitragynine and dozens of other alkaloids.

Buy Kratom Online From Kratom Country

A previous blog examined the kratom legislation that states have already passed and implemented. We do not sell or ship kratom to any state, county, city, or country where kratom is prohibited or restricted by law. The products sold on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Operated by our in-house editorial team — a small group of writers, engineers, and kratom-industry veterans.

Manufacture, delivery, or sale of kratom is a felony and can lead to fines up to $25,000. On July 1, those convicted of kratom possession face up to 11 months, 29 days, in jail and a $2,500 fine. Though, it is not banned at the federal level. Its effects include feelings of pleasure and relief, pain reduction, and sedation or stimulation depending on the dose, according to the Nashville Addiction Clinic. The law’s sponsor, Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga), called kratom “gas station heroin.” Kratom is derived from a Southeast Asian tropical tree.

• At the federal level, 7-OH is not currently scheduled.
• Then there is 7-OH, which is found naturally in the kratom leaf in trace amounts, but is chemically or synthetically concentrated to create a potent opioid product.
• You can take kratom following the toss-and-wash method.
• Pure Leaf Kratom is committed to providing premium, affordable kratom products that enhance your wellness journey while maintaining the highest standards of quality and transparency.
• Responsible vendors describe effects without crossing into medical territory.

A panel of lawmakers approved the permanent ban on synthetic kratom, which is not regulated but is marketed as a dietary supplement and sold at specialty shops, convenience stores and gas stations. A ban on synthetically modified versions of the Asian botanical herb kratom will take effect May 14, replacing a temporary ban set to expire in June. Products range from powdered leaf, which most closely resembles the traditional use of kratom, to isolated extracts of active ingredients in the plant.

Utah’s kratom ban takes effect: Adulterated products should be off shelves

The FDA has issued import alerts and warning letters but has not banned the plant. As of January 2026, 30 states and the District of Columbia regulate kratom. An estimated 1.7 million Americans ages 12 and older used kratom in 2021, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic.” The drug is popular, particularly among the college crowd, but can have a number of serious side effects, including liver toxicity and seizures.

• At Kratom Country, we make it easy to buy kratom online with a wide selection of premium products, transparent testing, and fast, reliable shipping.
• CBD Kratom partnered with the league to create a mini-series to promote the benefits of its products to athletes.
• A previous blog examined the kratom legislation that states have already passed and implemented.
• Shipping Kratom products must be restricted to the states & cities above.
• Kratom advocates say the negative press and push to criminalize kratom are fueled more by corporate greed than actual health concerns.
• Last year, California was on its way to having statewide regulation for kratom products.

“After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught flat-footed again.” A national ban wouldn’t kick in until new rules are drafted and finalized. Next up, the DEA will review 7-OH and decide whether to officially label it an illicit drug. The agency wants 7-OH classified as Schedule I, a category reserved for illicit drugs with no medical use and a high potential for abuse — alongside heroin and LSD. “7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a statement.

Its popularity has soared in the US in recent years, with many turning to it as a so-called natural fix for pain, anxiety, depression and even to kick opioid addiction. In a report marked "current as of December 12, 2025," the FDA states that "kratom is not lawfully marketed in the U.S. as a drug product, a dietary supplement, or a food additive in conventional food." Last year, California was on its way to having statewide regulation for kratom products. 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. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy is still considering whether Alt Law to ban natural kratom. The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review approved naming synthetic kratom as a Schedule 1 controlled substance in Ohio.

BBC Newshour

Utah News Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. “Bottom line is the product sold by the company Botanic Tonics is really dangerous, and I’m glad that we’re no longer going to be selling the product ‘feel free’ in the state of Utah,” he said. Now that the partial ban is going into effect, McKell said he intends to keep an eye on the issue, hoping for a full ban. “Even if feel free falls within the federal definition of a dietary supplement and does not meet statutory criteria for being deemed to be adulterated, these federal statutes do not require that feel free be sold,” the court wrote in its decision.