By Tracy Pennycuick
Federal and state health agencies are increasingly warning citizens about the opioid-like effects of synthetic kratom products known as 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warnings include high blood pressure, confusion, seizures, nausea and vomiting, liver damage and, in some cases, death.
The higher the concentration of 7-OH, the greater the potential for harm. Yet these products can be purchased by consumers with little understanding of what they contain or the risks they pose.
They are increasingly available online, in smoke shops and at gas stations. Some contain highly concentrated and potentially unsafe levels of 7-OH. They lack sufficient clinical safety data and can expose consumers to serious risks, including toxicity and dependence.
Recently, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) temporarily classified unsafe synthetic kratom products as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act.
Schedule I is the strictest category under federal law and is reserved for substances that have a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. If the federal action is finalized, the manufacture, sale and possession of covered 7-OH products would be prohibited except for federally authorized research.
DEA’s temporary designation would remain in place for two years, with the potential for an additional year while permanent scheduling proceedings move forward. This is an important step toward protecting consumers from a dangerous and rapidly evolving market.
Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia that has long been used for traditional purposes. Its primary naturally occurring compound, mitragynine, is generally present in much higher concentrations than 7-OH. The DEA notes that naturally occurring 7-OH is found only in trace amounts in the plant. However, 7-OH can be produced from mitragynine and is increasingly being found in concentrated and synthetic products.
That distinction matters.
Federal action is welcome, but it does not necessarily eliminate the need for action here in Pennsylvania. Federal scheduling provides federal authorities with additional enforcement tools, while Pennsylvania still needs an appropriate state framework to ensure state and local authorities can effectively enforce protections for our communities.
That’s why I introduced the Kratom Consumer Protection Act.
My bill would prohibit the preparation, manufacturing, sale or distribution of kratom products mixed with unsafe materials or ingredients. It would also prohibit the sale or distribution of kratom products to anyone under 21.
We should not wait for more families to be affected before acting.
We’ve made progress already. In 2025, the Pennsylvania Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed another piece of my legislation to ban unsafe synthetic kratom products.
As chair of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, I have worked to close gaps in our laws when emerging technologies and products create new threats to public safety. Synthetic kratom presents a similar challenge: The marketplace is moving faster than our laws, and consumers—particularly young people—can pay the price.
The DEA’s action is a significant step in the right direction. Now Pennsylvania should build on that progress and ensure we have the state-level protection necessary to keep dangerous synthetic kratom products out of the hands of our children and protect all Pennsylvanians from preventable harm. I applaud DEA’s announcement and will continue to seek commonsense guardrails in Pennsylvania.