(May 8, 2026) –
House Bill 2635 and
Senate Bill 430 passed this session and were signed into law by Governor Kelly last month, making Kratom and 7-OH Schedule I (C-I) controlled substances. Schedule I designates substances with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use, banning them in Kansas effective July 1. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a plant-based substance with stimulant and opioid-like effects, and 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) is a more potent alkaloid found in Kratom products. The
Kansas Kratom Fact Sheet, created by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation, shows that emergency department visits for Kratom and 7-OH overdose and withdrawal increased significantly from 2024 to 2025. With the ban on these substances effective July 1, 2026, it is anticipated this could result in increased patients experiencing withdrawal from these substances once they are no longer available, or potential overdoses if patients switch to other substances. DCCCA, a substance use disorder treatment provider in Kansas, is developing resources for providers and communities. KHA will continue to share these resources with members as they become available. For background information on Kratom and 7-OH, check out this webinar recording on
Kratom Information for Physicians, available on KU School of Medicine, Wichita's
Preparing Providers to Treat Addiction page.
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Karen Braman