The Californer - California leads the nation in cracking down on deadly Kratom goods — the feds are now following our lead

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Jul 15, 2026

California leads the nation in cracking down on deadly Kratom goods — the feds are now following our lead

California has achieved nearly 98% compliance among state-licensed retailers, removing more than 6,700 illegal products from store shelves

What you need to know: State-licensed alcohol retailers in California are nearly 98% compliant with the State's crackdown on illegal Kratom products, with more than 6,700 illegal, deadly kratom and 7-OH products removed from store shelves.

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted California's nation-leading efforts to remove dangerous kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products from store shelves following recent federal action by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to temporarily schedule 7-OH and related substances under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

California began aggressively enforcing its prohibition on products containing kratom and 7-OH months before this federal action, partnering with retailers across the state to protect consumers from these dangerous products marketed for consumption and often designed to appeal to children and young adults.

Kratom and 7-OH products pose a real threat to public health. Glad that the federal government is following our lead to take action against the real risks these goods pose to the public. In California, we are proud to work with businesses to get dangerous products off shelves and protect our communities.

Governor Gavin Newsom

"After five months of targeted kratom and 7-OH enforcement efforts, nearly 98 percent of ABC-licensed locations are in compliance," said ABC Director Paul Tupy. "This is possible through the collaboration of our licensees, who are making sure these harmful products aren't available on store shelves."

Since enforcement began, California has achieved:

97.70% compliance among state-licensed retailers statewide.
6,750 retail site visits conducted.
155 violations identified.
6,960 prohibited kratom and 7-OH products removed from store shelves.

The overwhelming compliance rate reflects California's collaborative approach—working with Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and licensed retailers to educate businesses, achieve voluntary compliance, and remove dangerous products from the marketplace before additional enforcement becomes necessary.

California continues to prioritize education, compliance assistance, and targeted enforcement to keep intoxicating products away from consumers while holding bad actors accountable.

California continues leading on public health

California was among the first states to take aggressive statewide enforcement action against products containing kratom and 7-OH after growing evidence linked these products to serious health risks, including overdose, addiction, and other adverse health outcomes according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

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The DEA's recent decision to temporarily schedule 7-OH and related substances reinforces the concerns California identified months ago and underscores the importance of proactive state leadership to protect public health.

California will continue working with retailers, manufacturers, and local partners to ensure compliance and keep dangerous products out of communities across the state.

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 state law 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:

ABC licensee advisory reminds businesses that kratom and 7-OH products are illegal to sell for consumption and informs retailers about ABC enforcement actions.
Kratom fact sheet for local environmental health agencies who may want to take voluntary action or educational efforts on kratom and 7-OH in their jurisdictions.
Letter to tobacco retailers that kratom and 7-OH products are illegal to sell for consumption and that retailers may be subject to legal actions and enforcement measures.
Health care provider advisory with information about kratom and 7-OH, clinical recommendations and additional resources and references.

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.

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