South Florida family sues kratom seller over son’s fatal overdose

Manufacture, delivery, or sale of kratom is a felony and can lead to fines up to $25,000. On July 1, those convicted of kratom possession face up to 11 months, 29 days, in jail and a $2,500 fine. Though, it is not banned at the federal level. Its effects include feelings of pleasure and relief, pain reduction, and sedation or stimulation depending on the dose, according to the Nashville Addiction Clinic. The law’s sponsor, Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga), called kratom “gas station heroin.” Kratom is derived from a Southeast Asian tropical tree.

• A plain-English roundup of this week’s most important kratom news for natural-leaf powder and capsule shoppers.
• Kratom is legal for adult use at the federal level, though the FDA hasn’t approved it for any medical purpose.
• She noted that a letter from Gov. Mike DeWine to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy said there were at least 200 Ohioans who died from kratom between 2019 to 2024.
• Certified third-party lab testing ensures that your kava and kratom shots are pure, potent, and free from contaminants such as yeast, mold, coliform, salmonella, staphylococcus, E.
• “I think that what we need to do is, we need to figure out how to educate people. We need to get similar to what we do with cigarettes, alcohol, or cannabis. At this point, it needs to be, you know, warning labels about what it is and what it does,” said Micah Sawyer, the founder of a Sonoma County non-profit educating youth about the dangers of substance abuse.

Athletes, team executives and training staff in the NFL, NBA and MLB told The Athletic they had never heard of kratom or did not believe it was commonly used. “I look fit and super healthy, so people would be surprised that this was an issue,” he said. Last month, he tried to kick kratom a second time using Ibogaine and said he’s feeling hopeful it will stick. He started taking kratom capsules regularly five years ago and then two years ago turned to a kratom drink called Feel Free. Industry insiders and kratom critics say they are closely watching the medical examiner’s findings.

What is kratom, and why is Boston considering a crackdown on the drug?

Its popularity has soared in the US in recent years, with many turning to it as a so-called natural fix for pain, anxiety, depression and even to kick opioid addiction. In a report marked "current as of December 12, 2025," the FDA states that "kratom is not lawfully marketed in the U.S. as a drug product, a dietary supplement, or a food additive in conventional food." Last year, California was on its way to having statewide regulation for kratom products. In July, the FDA recommended that the synthetic ingredient 7-OH, not the plant itself, be placed on the federal government’s restrictive list of illegal drugs. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy is still considering whether to ban natural kratom. The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review approved naming synthetic kratom as a Schedule 1 controlled substance in Ohio.

Utah News Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. “Bottom line is the product sold by the company Botanic Tonics is really dangerous, and I’m glad that we’re no longer going to be selling the product ‘feel free’ in the state of Utah,” he said. Now that the partial ban is going into effect, McKell said he intends to keep an eye on the issue, hoping for a full ban. “Even if feel free falls within the federal definition of a dietary supplement and does not meet statutory criteria for being deemed to be adulterated, these federal statutes do not require that feel free be sold,” the court wrote in its decision.

Kratom Legality

“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,” said Governor DeWine. Real Botanicals remains committed to providing safe, lab-tested, naturally extracted 7-OH products in compliance with state and federal law. Whole-leaf kratom powder and full-spectrum extracts with natural alkaloid ratios generally remain legal in locations where kratom itself is permitted. Products derived through natural extraction from kratom plant material occupy safer legal ground in most jurisdictions. This approach keeps our products aligned with the regulatory distinction between natural and synthetic, while delivering the potency experienced users seek. When you consume whole-leaf kratom powder or a full-spectrum extract, you're getting 7-OH as nature intended, balanced with mitragynine and dozens of other alkaloids.

Whether you’re new to kratom or looking to explore new strains, having the right information makes all the difference. However, like kratom, they also cause a high effect when misused. Yes, kratom can cause liver problems such as acute liver injury and, in rare cases, acute liver failure. Kratom products work as a sedative and stimulant depending on the dose and cannot be marketed as a supplement. There haven’t been any cases of kratom causing yeast infection. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about kratom.

Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine function as partial agonists at the μ-opioid receptors and antagonists at the δ-opioid receptors. White Rabbit kratom seltzer offers a unique experience that combines the benefits of kratom with delicious, bubbly refreshments. Renew Clinic said Knoxville’s opioid numbers are trending down right now, but they fear this ban may bump those numbers back up. Paul DiBrito, CEO of Kats Botanicals in Middle Tennessee, sells products in East Tennessee. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Kratom will be banned from store shelves in Tennessee starting July 1 after lawmakers branded the substance “gas station heroin.” The products on this website are only for use in Alt Law states where the sale and consumption of such products are legal.

The FDA has issued import alerts and warning letters but has not banned the plant. As of January 2026, 30 states and the District of Columbia regulate kratom. An estimated 1.7 million Americans ages 12 and older used kratom in 2021, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic.” The drug is popular, particularly among the college crowd, but can have a number of serious side effects, including liver toxicity and seizures.

A previous blog examined the kratom legislation that states have already passed and implemented. We do not sell or ship kratom to any state, county, city, or country where kratom is prohibited or restricted by law. The products sold on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Operated by our in-house editorial team — a small group of writers, engineers, and kratom-industry veterans.