Ohio is smart to pump brakes on banning all forms of kratom | Opinion

On August 25, 2025, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recommended that the State Board of Pharmacy schedule all kratom compounds as controlled substances. The proposal raised immediate concern among consumers, advocates, and health experts who recognize the difference between natural kratom leaf and synthetic opioid derivatives.

Why Gov. DeWine’s Kratom Proposal is Problematic

Gov. DeWine’s recommendation failed to distinguish between:

• 🌿 Natural kratom leaf, which contains a balanced spectrum of alkaloids and only trace amounts of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).

• 💊 Synthetic, concentrated 7-OH products, which are chemically altered and responsible for recent public health harms and addiction cases.

By lumping these substances together, the proposal risked punishing responsible users of natural kratom while ignoring the real issue: synthetic opioids misbranded as kratom.

A Critical Pause: The Board Postpones Its Decision

Fortunately, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy chose to postpone its decision to schedule kratom. This pause allows for:

• Further scientific evaluation of kratom’s safety profile

• Distinguishing natural kratom leaf from lab-made 7-OH derivatives

• Protecting Ohio consumers from misguided legislation

This move was a positive step not only for Ohio, but for all Americans who rely on kratom as a natural botanical alternative.

The Real Problem: Synthetic 7-OH Derivatives

The rise in synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine products has created confusion and danger in the marketplace. These concentrated opioids are being misleadingly marketed as kratom, leading to:

• Increased addiction risks

• Overdose reports

• Public and political backlash against natural kratom

Unfortunately, natural kratom leaf products have unfairly taken the blame for the harms caused by synthetic derivatives.

Why Natural Kratom Should Not Be Banned

Natural kratom has been used safely for centuries in Southeast Asia as a traditional herbal supplement. Modern consumers in the United States turn to kratom for:

• Increased focus and energy

• Relief from occasional discomfort

• General well-being support

Blanket bans—like the one originally proposed by Gov. DeWine—ignore this history and the growing body of research showing that natural kratom is not equivalent to synthetic opioids.

Final Thoughts: A Call for Balanced Regulation

Ohio’s temporary pause on kratom scheduling is a victory for reason and science. Instead of banning kratom outright, policymakers should:

• Target synthetic 7-OH derivatives and other dangerous products

• Support research on kratom’s benefits and risks

• Protect consumer access to safe, natural kratom leaf products

By focusing on the real threats—concentrated synthetic opioids—we can safeguard both public health and the freedom of responsible kratom consumers.