Updated kratom issue brief can help states prepare for 2027 legislative sessions
As states begin preparations for the 2027 state legislative sessions, the AMA has updated an issue brief (PDF) highlighting kratom’s public health harms and previous legislative efforts to regulate kratom, sometimes referred to as "gas station heroin." The brief, “Unregulated kratom is a dangerous substance and presents serious public health concerns,” provides data regarding kratom use disorder, kratom-related reports to the National Poison Data System, and warnings from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The AMA has worked with multiple states on legislative provisions, examples of which can be found in this brief (PDF).
The AMA has updated its policies on kratom several times in recent years, including support for:
Legislation banning synthesized, purified or derivative products from kratom for marketing, distribution, promotion and sale including but not limited to the unregulated mitragynine along with the 7-hydroxymitragynine and MGM-15 market.
The safety and efficacy of kratom, and its derivatives, being determined through research and clinical trials and subsequently evaluated by the relevant regulatory entities for its appropriateness for sale and potential oversight via the Controlled Substances Act, before it can be marketed, purchased or prescribed.
The FDA and state legislatures classifying (7-OH) kratom products as adulterated or misbranded when sold in child-appealing forms, prohibiting their availability in physical retail stores and online platforms accessible to minors.
Public education campaigns by physicians warning parents and youth of (7-OH) kratom risks, including adverse cutaneous effects, and support research into pediatric exposures and optimal regulatory frameworks.
