More US states push to ban kratom drink deemed 'gas-station heroin'
As kratom use rises in the US, with hospitalizations spiking from 43 in 2015 to 538 in 2025, lawmakers in several states move to ban the substance, citing addiction risks, while industry groups argue only synthetic versions are dangerous.
Maizie Hepner, a 24-year-old server from Iowa, began visiting a bar that served kava and kratom drinks instead of alcohol. The owner assured her kratom was not addictive. She soon went three to four times a week and started buying powder from a liquor store. "I just didn't feel like myself without it," she said, experiencing sweating and irritability.
Over the past decade, kratom use has surged in the United States. In 2015, there were 43 hospitalizations linked solely to kratom; by 2025, that number reached 538, according to a University of Virginia study. The spike coincides with the emergence of synthetic versions like 7-OH. Experts warn that kratom could worsen the opioid crisis.
At least eight states – Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin – have already banned kratom. Others are considering similar measures. Tennessee's ban takes effect July 1. In Idaho, kratom was a contributing factor in 47 deaths between 2021 and 2023, though other substances were also present. After a coroner reported four deaths solely due to kratom, Idaho Falls approved a ban effective July 1.
The kratom industry, including Happy Hippo, donated over $34,000 to Idaho candidates between 2024 and 2026. Mac Haddow of the American Kratom Association denies kratom is dangerous, blaming only 7-OH. He claims no evidence that kratom alone causes death. Dr. Andrew Kolodny of Brandeis University calls this messaging deceptive, saying many policymakers have fallen for it.
New York state passed legislation banning 7-OH but not natural kratom products. Iowa's legislature approved a bill criminalizing kratom possession, not yet signed. Hepner, who quit kratom and suffered fever, tremors, and difficulty eating, believes it should be banned. Eric Schiesl, a "kavatender" at Kava Kava, credits kratom with helping him stop harder drugs and opposes the ban, arguing prohibition leads to more crime.
