Ohio ban on both natural and synthetic kratom compounds paused

On August 13, 2025, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed an emergency rule to immediately designate concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a synthetic compound of the kratom plant, as a Schedule I substance in the state¹, and now another state has taken steps to prohibit these compounds. In late August, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that he had called upon the state Board of Pharmacy to designate both natural and synthetic compounds of the drug as Schedule I, stating the synthetic compounds are addictive and pose serious hazards to health². DeWine’s ban would include mitragynine, 7-OH, and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP).

“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,” stated Governor DeWine in the August 25 press release². “There is no accepted medical use for kratom in Ohio, and it is an imminent public health risk. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy should act with urgency to schedule all kratom compounds and future alterations of them as Schedule I illegal drugs.”

Kratom is made from the leaves of a tropical tree (Mitragyna speciosa) native to Southeast Asia¹. It is not a legally a dietary ingredient, though it has ranked one of the best-selling functional ingredients, landing in the 25 top-selling functional ingredients in the mainstream multi-outlet channel, according to SPINS data from the 52 weeks ending on October 6, 2024. In his statement, Governor DeWine noted that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved kratom for consumption or supported its claims for medical benefits. In July, the FDA had recommended certain 7-OH products be placed under the Controlled Substances Act, clarifying that the concentrated byproducts were being targeted in this recommendation rather than the leaves of the plant¹.

If the Board of Pharmacy approves the designation for the current and future iterations of the natural and synthetic compounds, Ohio would be the first state to do so². However, an August 27 special board meeting regarding the placement of the compounds was canceled³. In a news release in response to the cancellation, the American Kratom Association (AKA) commended the Board and Governor DeWine for designating more time to consider the scheduling decision⁴. 

“The Governor and Board of Pharmacy made the right call in pausing before taking sweeping action that would have harmed thousands of Ohio consumers who responsibly use kratom,” stated Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy for the AKA, in the August 27 news release⁴. “We applaud their commitment to thoughtful consideration and welcome the opportunity to work together on a balanced policy.”

The AKA noted that its advocacy efforts have aligned with FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH Commissioner and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in their actions on 7-OH, stating the chemically altered substances, not the natural plant, pose a safety threat to consumers^1,4. The organization stated that it supports the scheduling of 7-OH and other unsafe synthetic compounds, regulations that assure the safety of kratom products in Ohio, and enabling consumer access to natural kratom products. It also stated it would work with Governor DeWine and the Board of Pharmacy on a science-based regulatory framework for access to safe kratom products.

“Kratom consumers in Ohio and across the country want safe access to products they can trust,” Haddow added. “By focusing on removing dangerous synthetics while regulating natural kratom responsibly, Ohio can set a strong example for other states to follow.”

References

1. McEvoy, E. Emergency rule in Florida criminalizes sale and possession of 7-OH, citing public health risks https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/emergency-rule-in-florida-criminalizes-sale-and-possession-of-7-oh-citing-public-health-risks (accessed 2025-09-04).
2. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Governor DeWine Calls on Pharmacy Board to Schedule Kratom Compounds as Illegal Drugs https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/governor-dewine-calls-on-pharmacy-board-to-schedule-+kratom-compounds-as-illegal-drugs (accessed 2025-09-04).
3. Ohio Board of Pharmacy. Special Board Meeting Agenda – August 27 https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/documents/pubs/sunshine/2025/202508%20-%20special%20board%20meeting%20agenda%20-%20august%202025%20(8.27).pdf (accessed 2025-09-04).
4. American Kratom Association. BOP Scheduling in OHIO Called Off https://www.americankratom.org/news/ohio (accessed 2025-09-04).