Ohio Governor Seeks Ban on Natural, Synthetic Kratom Amid Rising Overdoses

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has been actively pushing to ban both natural and synthetic forms of kratom, citing public health risks and overdose deaths linked particularly to synthetic kratom products containing high concentrations of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), an opioid more potent than morphine. While natural kratom, derived from the plant Mitragyna speciosa, is used by some to manage pain and opioid withdrawal, synthetic variants have been associated with over 200 unintentional overdose deaths in Ohio from 2019 to 2024. DeWine has called on the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to designate kratom compounds as Schedule I substances, aligning with FDA recommendations to target synthetic derivatives rather than the natural plant. However, after a conversation with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who also supports regulation, DeWine paused the immediate ban efforts to consider federal guidance, though he remains committed to a ban. The American Kratom Association supports regulating synthetic and highly concentrated products but defends natural kratom as a safe herbal supplement, seeking to avoid overregulation of legitimate businesses. The debate reflects growing concerns about the unregulated sale of kratom in stores and online, with calls for urgent action to protect public health while balancing perspectives on natural versus synthetic forms.