Virginia bans 7-OH, adds strict new kratom restrictions

But, the FDA also stated "..it is not focused on natural kratom leaf products." Claims that kratom and 7-OH products can treat pain, anxiety and opioid withdrawal are unproven. But recently, public health officials have raised alarms about a component of the leaf called hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, an alkaloid that has the potential for abuse because of its ability to bind to opioid receptors in the body. Within the industry, manufacturers of products made from the leaf regularly spar with the makers of synthetic versions like 7-OH over how kratom should be regulated. Many people who descended into kratom addiction say gas station products sucked them in. USA TODAY spoke with more than 20 people who say they became severely addicted to kratom − a plant ingredient found in products sold at gas stations, liquor stores and smoke shops across the country by various companies.

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• The concentrated byproduct has been linked to opioid receptors in the body, triggering the potential for abuse and various drug-related symptoms.
• Mitragynine binds to opioid receptors in the brain, relieving pain.
• “Further, the unproven treatments could cause patients to forego or delay FDA-approved treatments for opioid addiction or withdrawal.”
• Natural 7-OH occurs in trace amounts in kratom leaves.
• The Texas Department of State Health Services issued warnings in 2025 about concentrated 7-OH products, citing a spike in poison control calls.

Regulators place these products into different legal categories. Others create 7-OH semi-synthetically by chemically converting mitragynine. Natural 7-OH occurs in trace amounts in kratom leaves. Tennessee's historic relationship with kratom is a complex one.

The ingredient is being used in products that are becoming increasingly available to purchase online and at smoke shops, the agency warned. Poison control centers in the U.S. received more than 3,400 reports about the use of kratom from 2014 to 2019, according to the Mayo Clinic. “Its availability is a cause for concern since Los Angeles residents might use kratom without a full understanding of its risks,” the statement read. Other states are working on legislation that would tighten kratom regulations that include testing, age restrictions and labeling. Some states, including Arizona, Minnesota and Texas, prohibit the sale of products with 7-OH to minors.

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Of those, 184 involved multiple substances. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. A Doctor's advice should be sought before using this and any supplemental dietary product. Consult with a physician before use if you have a serious medical condition or use prescription medications.

They’re solid tablets that contain a set amount of 7-hydroxymitragynine extract. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 7-hydroxymitragynine is not approved by the FDA as a dietary ingredient. During the first seven months of 2025, poison control centers nationwide received 1,690 reports of exposure cases involving kratom, Kratom Farms which already surpasses the total number of cases for the entire year of 2024.

To better understand the trend, UVA Health researchers led by Rita Farah, PhD, MPH, PharmD, analyzed kratom-related calls reported to the National Poison Data System. Because the products are not regulated, consumers cannot be sure what they are taking. Traditionally, people have used the leaves by chewing them, crushing them, or brewing them into tea for pain relief and mood enhancement.

Current law regulates the sale of natural kratom while maintaining the ban on synthetic alkaloids. A growing number specifically restrict high-concentration 7-OH products, but still consider natural kratom to be legal. For experienced kratom users seeking targeted effects, 7-OH products for sale offer a more intense experience. Some manufacturers have begun isolating and concentrating 7-OH, creating products with alkaloid levels far beyond what occurs in natural kratom. 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is one of the active alkaloids found naturally in kratom leaves. OPIA offers 7-Hydroxymitragynine in the form of chewable tablets and shots, these kratom products come in delicious flavors such as blueberry lemonade, Strawberry Watermelon and mintopia.