Kratom Ban Ohio 2026: Is Kratom Legal? 7-OH Rules Explained

Last verified: October 29, 2026 against OAC 4729:9-1-01.1, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy kratom notice revised October 5, 2026, and the Federal Register

Is kratom legal in Ohio? It depends on the form. The kratom ban Ohio adopted in 2025 and 2026 does not cover the plain leaf, but it does cover the products most people actually buy at gas stations and smoke shops: 7-OH tablets, extracts, shots and mixed drinks. Many people searching for the “7-OH ban” are really asking which of those products are now off limits.

This page explains what the Ohio Board of Pharmacy banned, when each step took effect, what the penalties look like, and what is still unsettled in court and in federal law.

Is kratom legal in Ohio right now?

Partly. Ohio has not banned the kratom plant itself, but it has banned processed and chemically concentrated kratom products.

The Board of Pharmacy classified “mitragynine-related compounds” as Schedule I controlled substances. The rule carves out mitragynine in vegetation form, “including natural kratom leaf and ground natural kratom leaf” (OAC 4729:9-1-01.1). So a bag of dried leaf or plain leaf powder is not a Schedule I substance, while a concentrated product made from it can be.

Even legal leaf comes with limits. The Board’s notice says everyone who sells or handles kratom must follow Ohio’s Pure Food and Drug Act, ORC Chapter 3715. In practice that means a seller cannot market raw leaf as a food, drink or supplement.

Is kratom banned in Ohio? What is and is not allowed

Ohio now sorts kratom by form. The Board’s October 5, 2026 notice lists four groups.

Product form	Status in Ohio
Natural vegetative kratom (raw leaf, chewed, or dried and ground into powder)	Allowed. Trace amounts of 7-OH naturally in the leaf do not make it illegal.
Extracts and tinctures	Not allowed
Blended products (leaf mixed with water, kava or caffeine)	Not allowed, per the Board’s notice after the August 4, 2026 court ruling
Kratom-derived synthetics such as 7-hydroxymitragynine, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and 7-acetoxymitragynine	Not allowed (Schedule I)

If a product is sold as a pill, shot, gummy, vape, seltzer or tonic, assume it falls on the banned side unless the Board’s current notice says otherwise. Retailers and owners are told to dispose of banned products.

Is 7-OH legal in Ohio? The 7-OH ban explained

No. 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is named in OAC 4729:9-1-01.1 as a Schedule I controlled substance in Ohio.

7-OH is a kratom alkaloid. It occurs in tiny natural amounts in the leaf, but many products sold under the “7-OH” label contain it in concentrated or lab-made form. Ohio’s rule bans the concentrated and synthetic versions, and it says natural leaf with only trace amounts of 7-OH may still be sold.

When did the 7-OH ban start in Ohio?

The 7-OH ban took effect in two steps. The emergency version started December 12, 2025, and the permanent version took effect May 19, 2026.

Date	What happened
Early December 2025	Gov. Mike DeWine renews his request that the Ohio Board of Pharmacy ban kratom-related compounds.
December 12, 2025	The Board’s emergency rule takes effect, a 180-day measure under the Ohio Administrative Code.
May 19, 2026	The permanent rule takes effect and replaces the emergency rule.
August 4, 2026	A Franklin County Common Pleas judge denies a request to freeze the rule. The Board’s notice lists blended products as not allowed from this date.
October 5, 2026	The Board issues its current consumer and retailer notice, which replaces earlier guidance.
Later	The court challenge continues toward trial. Check the court docket for the current schedule.

Where is 7-OH legal? Federal law and other states

Federal law has been moving toward 7-OH, but as of October 29, 2026 it does not yet have a final temporary Schedule I order in effect.

The FDA recommended in July 2025 that the DEA begin scheduling certain 7-OH products. The DEA published a first notice of intent on July 6, 2026, then published a new notice of intent on October 14, 2026 that covers 7-OH and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl above a concentration threshold. That notice says a temporary Schedule I order will not be issued before November 13, 2026, and would last two years with a possible one-year extension. A separate temporary order placing mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and MGM-16 in Schedule I took effect August 26, 2026.

The DEA’s proposed threshold is aimed at concentrated products, not the plain leaf. State rules also vary a lot, and this page does not rank other states. If you travel with kratom, check the destination’s rules first. Ohio’s rule applies to anyone possessing it inside the state.

What are the penalties for banned kratom products?

Possessing a banned kratom product is possession of a Schedule I drug, which is aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony for amounts below the bulk amount (ORC 2925.11).

Offense	Level	Prison range	Fine (maximum)
Possession of a Schedule I substance, under bulk amount	F5	6 to 12 months	$2,500
Possession at or above bulk amount, under 5 times bulk	F3	9 to 36 months (presumption for prison)	$10,000
Larger amounts (5 times bulk and up)	F2 and F1	Mandatory prison terms	Mandatory fines

Ranges come from ORC 2929.14 and ORC 2929.18. For a F5, a judge may choose community control instead of prison. Selling or sharing banned products can be charged as trafficking under ORC 2925.03, which carries heavier penalties. A court will look at the actual product, the amount and your record.

Whether a particular store product is below or above the “bulk amount” depends on a lab test of the product. That is a question for your attorney.

Driving after using kratom

Driving while impaired by kratom can lead to an OVI charge, because Ohio’s law covers alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination (ORC 4511.19).

Kratom has no set per se blood limit in the statute the way marijuana does. An officer and prosecutor would rely on how you drove, your behavior and a test result. See our weed article for how Ohio treats drug limits in OVI cases.

Myths and facts

Myth	Fact
“Kratom is completely banned in Ohio.”	Plain natural leaf and ground leaf powder are allowed. Extracts, tinctures, blends and 7-OH products are not.
“Mitragynine is Schedule I in Ohio.”	The rule excludes mitragynine in vegetation form, including natural leaf and ground natural leaf.
“If a store sells it, it must be legal.”	Shelf stock can be out of date. The Board tells retailers to remove banned products immediately.
“The judge struck down the ban.”	On August 4, 2026 the judge refused to freeze it. The rule remains in effect while the case continues.
“A federal 7-OH ban is already in force.”	As of October 29, 2026 the DEA’s temporary order is not expected before November 13, 2026.

Real-life Ohio scenarios

• You bought dried leaf powder in Dayton. If it is plain ground leaf with no added extract and it is not sold as a food or supplement, it is on the allowed list.
• You have a 7-OH tablet from an Ohio gas station. It is a Schedule I product under the rule. Dispose of it, and do not carry it in your car.
• You own a smoke shop in Cleveland. Check every product against the Board’s current notice. Questions go to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Food Safety.
• You bought a kratom drink online from another state. Ohio’s rule applies where you possess it. A shipment from out of state does not make a banned product legal.

Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and other city rules

The Board’s rule is statewide, so the same kratom rules apply in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Akron. This page found no separate city kratom ordinance that changes the answer.

Frequently asked questions

Is kratom legal in Ohio?

Partly. Natural kratom leaf and plain ground leaf are allowed. Extracts, tinctures, blended products and kratom-derived compounds such as 7-OH are Schedule I under OAC 4729:9-1-01.1. Raw leaf cannot be sold as a food, drink or supplement under Ohio’s Pure Food and Drug Act.

Is kratom illegal in Ohio?

Not as a plant. The rule excludes mitragynine in vegetation form. But concentrated and processed forms like extracts, tinctures, blends and 7-OH are illegal to sell or possess. Check the Board of Pharmacy’s current notice before you buy or sell anything.

When does the 7-OH ban take effect in Ohio?

It already took effect. The emergency rule began December 12, 2025, and the permanent rule took effect on May 19, 2026. The Board’s latest consumer and retailer notice was revised on October 5, 2026.

Is 7oh legal in Ohio?

No. 7-hydroxymitragynine is named as a Schedule I substance in OAC 4729:9-1-01.1. Natural leaf containing only trace amounts of 7-OH may still be sold, but products with concentrated or synthetic 7-OH are banned.

Did a judge overturn the Ohio kratom ban?

No. On August 4, 2026, a Franklin County judge refused to freeze the rule while the lawsuit continues. The case continues toward trial, and one plaintiff said it plans to appeal.

Will the DEA ban 7-OH nationwide?

The DEA says it plans a temporary Schedule I order for 7-OH. Its October 14, 2026 notice says the order will be published on or after November 13, 2026, and last two years with a possible one-year extension.

Can I get a felony for having a 7-OH product?

Yes, it is possible. Possessing a Schedule I drug is a fifth-degree felony below the bulk amount under ORC 2925.11. Larger amounts carry higher felony levels, and selling can be charged as trafficking.

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