Kansas City bans synthetic 7-OH and restricts kratom sales

Kansas City, Missouri, passed an ordinance on Thursday banning synthetic kratom and restricting the sales of natural kratom to those 21 and up. In a 13-0 vote, the council unanimously approved new restrictions on kratom and an outright ban on 7-OH, with the city saying the substances pose a risk to the well-being of the public.

The new law, passed by the mayor and the Kansas City Council, also regulates where the substances can be sold. Councilmembers said the move is about protecting vulnerable residents, especially children, and said the decision comes down to prevention.

The mayor initially proposed the ordinance in December of 2025 after hearing feedback from the community. He said “gas station drugs are sold with virtually no oversight or safety testing” and are “marketed as legal alternatives,” while the law takes “a common-sense approach to protect public health and public safety while keeping our communities safe.”

Stores selling those products now have 60 days before the new law takes effect, introducing the following measures:

• No more selling kratom that can be smoked, vaped, or products that look like candy.
• Stores can no longer sell synthetic versions of 7-OH.
• Natural kratom can only be sold to adults 21 and older, and stores must keep these products out of reach of anyone under 21.
• Any business that wants to sell natural kratom must get a special license from the City.

The ordinance imposes penalties of up to a $1,000 fine and can jeopardize a business’s ability to operate within Kansas City. Kansas City’s move comes before action from either the federal government or the Missouri Legislature, which is currently considering a bill this session aimed at these substances.

Over the last year, health authorities have launched a crackdown against 7-OH products in the wake of reports about the addictiveness and potential dangers of the compound. While 7-hydroxymitragynine occurs naturally in trace amounts in kratom, many of the products drawing regulatory scrutiny are synthetically concentrated versions. Last year, the FDA recommended that 7-OH, a byproduct of kratom, become classified as a controlled substance.

As of March 25, 2026, Connecticut implemented a ban against kratom products and required stores to remove any remaining inventory from shelves. Nassau County, New York, also passed a bill banning the sale of all kratom products and synthetic counterparts in March, while legislation was introduced in neighboring Suffolk County to potentially ban kratom products.

Kratom is a leafy green botanical native to Southeast Asia that acts on the opioid receptors. It can be turned into powder, liquid, or tea and is sold online and in gas stations and smoke shops.