On Tuesday, January 6, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy (BOP) announced it was taking steps to ban all kratom in the state of Ohio.
In August, the BOP proposed an emergency ban placing both mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) on the list of Schedule I controlled substances. The ban was halted after a call from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
Subsequently, DeWine announced an apparent ban using the emergency rule on four compounds (7-OH, Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, Dihydro-7-hydroxy mitragynine, and 7-acetoxymitragynine) for a period of 180 days, during which the BOP will propose a rule to permanently ban the compounds. In a confusing and clumsily-worded statement, natural kratom and mitragynine was apparently spared from the emergency ban. However, DeWine expressed that natural kratom and mitragynine would be subject to the usual rule-making process of the BOP.
From a statement issued by the BOP:
Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until close of business on January 28, 2026.
Comments must be submitted electronically using this online comment form:
www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/MITcomment
Copies of these comments will be provided to the Common Sense Initiative.
IMPORTANT: This proposed rule bans the sale and possession of mitragynine, the primary
psychoactive alkaloid found in the Mitragyna speciosa plant, commonly known as kratom.
In an email, the American Kratom Association (AKA) said:
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy is accepting public comments on its proposed Mitragynine Rule, and this is a critical opportunity for kratom consumers to be heard.
Comments are due by close of business on January 28, 2026.
If advocates do not speak up, Ohio can criminalize all kratom.
Please take a few minutes to share your perspective as a kratom consumer, patient, or advocate. Personal stories and clear statements supporting science-based regulation — not prohibition are especially impactful.