Breaking down kratom amid call for ban in Ohio

OHIO — In recent weeks, health and political officials have been calling attention to kratom, warning about the dangers of it and trying to ban it.

But what exactly is kratom, and why are officials so concerned?

On Monday, Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, called for the ban of kratom and for it to be removed from Ohio store shelves. DeWine asked the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to designate all forms, both natural and synthetic versions, of kratom as illegal. 

Here’s what it is, and why it’s gaining attention.

What is kratom?

Kratom is an herbal extract that comes from a tree called Mitragyna speciosa, according to the Mayo Clinic, which grows in Southeast Asia. Users claim it provides energy and boosts mood, but Mayo Clinic states there’s still research being done of whether it really works. 

What are the other reasons people use it?

Kratom is a stimulant, according to Mayo Clinic, which users reported not only makes them alert with more energy, but also reduces pain. People also reported it makes them feel calm and less anxious. Addtionally, some people reported taking it to help quit opioids by combatting withdrawal symptoms.

What are the risks?

Mayo Clinic noted it carries its own risk of addiction. Additionally, as Toledo-Lucas County Health Department Health previously noted, its effects are unpredictable. 

Side effects of kratom include:

• Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite
• Respiratory depression
• Hallucinations, confusion and agitation
• Seizures, liver toxicity and cardiovascular issues
• Dependency and withdrawal symptoms similar to those caused by opioids

Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated some mothers who used the drug during pregnancy resulted in newborns suffering from neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome at birth. 

The substance starts to work in minutes and lasts a few hours, according to Mayo Clinic. 

What’s legal and what’s not?

Ohio law states kratom can only be sold in its natural dried leaf or powdered form. It’s illegal to sell it in the form of capsules, liquids or as an ingredient in food products. 

The FDA hasn’t approved any prescription or over-the-counter drug products that contain kratom or its two main chemical components, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH-mitragynine). The FDA working to classify some compounds found in kratom, including 7-hydroxymitragynine, as Schedule I controlled substances. 

It’s currently sold online and in stores and gas stations, marketed as gummies, drinks and more. 

Why is DeWine trying to ban it?

Kratom can be turned into highly addictive synthetic forms that can result in the symptoms listed above. According to the Ohio Department of Health, there have been more than 200 unintentional overdose deaths involving kratom in Ohio between 2019 to 2024.

Additionally, through July 2025, poison control centers received 1,690 reports of exposure cases involving kratom.

“These modified kratom products, sold online and in stores, are essentially legal, over-the-counter opiates that anyone – including kids – can buy with just a few bucks,” DeWine said in a written statement. “There is no accepted medical use for kratom in Ohio, and it is an imminent public health risk. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy should act with urgency to schedule all kratom compounds and future alterations of them as Schedule I illegal drugs.”