Governor Newsom announces 95% compliance with prohibition of illegal kratom products  

Foods, dietary supplements, and medical drugs containing kratom and 7-OH are illegal to sell or manufacture in California and pose significant health risks to consumers. Products made from kratom plants, which are native to Southeast Asia, or their derivative 7-OH, have appeared for sale in California establishments, often marketed as dietary supplements, drinks, or gummies.

Protecting Californians from kratom

According to public health officials, kratom and 7-OH are associated with addiction, serious harm, overdose, and death. These products have not been tested for safety, consistency, effectiveness, or accurate labeling and have not been approved for sale by the FDA. When combined with alcohol, prescription medications, or other substances, they can cause severe respiratory depression and fatal outcomes. 

“Despite the wide availability of kratom-derived and 7-OH products, and unproven claims about their benefits, these products are associated with addiction, serious harm, overdose, and death, and have not been approved by the FDA as a food, supplement, or additive,” said CDPH Assistant Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Rita Nguyen. “It is illegal to manufacture or sell kratom or 7-OH products for consumption at any age. That policy is — and remains — our most health‑protective stance, and we appreciate partnership with ABC, CDTFA, and others in enforcing the law to protect Californians, especially our most vulnerable.”

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis found that kratom was implicated — at least in part — in 846 fatal overdose cases in 30 states and D.C. in 2022, the last full year for which data is available. This number is not inclusive of California-specific data. In California, according to a health department specific analysis, kratom was implicated in 242 deaths in 2020-2022, with 27 blamed solely on the illegal product. 

In early October 2025, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced additional fatal overdoses that were tied to kratom, of which also alcohol was present in all cases. A Los Angeles medical examiner identified three fatal overdoses in LA County residents between the ages of 18 to 40 years old, making the number of those affected a total of six. Those who were victims of kratom, were otherwise healthy, with no other substances identified as substantively contributing to their deaths.

This raised flags for county public health officials on the unregulated kratom products that are marketed as different products ranging from tablets or in liquid form, to the wider public with no warning on its effects. Those who are also affected by the rise in the kratom epidemic are young adults who are targeted through marketing tactics in stores.

On October 24, 2025, CDPH issued a statewide consumer warning declaring that foods, dietary supplements, and medical drugs containing kratom or 7-OH are dangerous and illegal to sell or manufacture in California. To date, CDPH has seized more than $5 million worth of kratom and 7-OH products under its authority pursuant to the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Educating California licensees

On January 19, ABC agents began visiting licensed locations to educate licensees of the dangerousness of these products. Between January 19 and February 8, agents visited more than 2,600 locations throughout the state.

“ABC licensed businesses have once again demonstrated their commitment to protecting their communities and customers,” said ABC Director Paul Tupy. “As we saw with illegal hemp products, we are seeing a high level of compliance with the law regarding kratom and 7-OH products. Our licensees have done an outstanding job removing these dangerous products from their shelves.”

Full enforcement began on February 9, and since then, agents have conducted 1,839 licensee visits, bringing the total number of visits to 4,502. Agents have found nearly all licensed locations have been in compliance when visited, identifying only 61 violations. Investigations are ongoing on whether these licensees found in violation could face administrative actions against their licenses.

Building on successful hemp enforcement

This effort follows a similar enforcement initiative aimed at removing potentially dangerous, illegal hemp products from ABC licensees’ shelves. Since October 2024, ABC licensees have achieved a 99.17% compliance rate regarding illegal hemp products. Since the beginning of 2026, no violations have been found in 2,612 visits.

The kratom enforcement campaign mirrors the state’s successful strategy for illegal hemp products, prioritizing education through clear communication of the law, involves coordinated efforts between agencies, and ensures prompt enforcement action when necessary.

Why this matters

The state’s enforcement will continue to target compliance at ABC-licensed locations to keep Californians safe from exposure to dangerous and illegal products. Businesses that fail to comply with the prohibition may face administrative disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation of their ABC license.

The following resources have been developed to raise awareness of the health risks and the fact that it is illegal to sell these products for consumption: 

Consumers are advised to avoid using kratom-derived or 7-OH products as they are dangerous, illegal, and potentially deadly. To reduce risk of overdose, anyone who may use 7-OH is advised to never mix with alcohol or other drugs, know the signs of overdose, and carry naloxone. Naloxone is a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid overdose, including overdose related to heroin, fentanyl, prescription opioid medications or 7-OH. 

Anyone experiencing adverse effects after consuming these products should contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or visit poisonhelp.org. To report the unlawful sale of these products, consumers may call the CDPH Complaint Hotline at (800) 495-3232 or submit an electronic report.