‘Gas station heroin ‘ TN passes full kratom ban after weeks-long debate over effects
To some, kratom offers relief from pain or opioid addiction. "Obviously, there are people who can pick up substances and put them down and be fine. But I don't think kratom is a miracle drug by any means. It's hippie heroin. That's all it is." Though kratom isn't as well known as other substances, addiction to it affects more people than many may realize. After seven years of sobriety from opioids, he says, he fell into kratom addiction after trying it with friends at a kava bar, a bar that serves drinks with the plant kava.
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The letters cited violations, including unapproved drug claims and marketing 7-OH as a dietary supplement, which the FDA considers illegal. The short answer is that it depends on where you live and what type of product you're buying. This product should be used only as directed on the label.
Americans born after 1970 face higher death rates from several major causes in middle age

Potential side effects of Kratom may include nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness. Botanicals can cause side effects if overused or misused or if you are sensitive to the ingredients. Some people find lower doses may support energy and focus, while higher strengths or dosing may impart a more calming relaxation. Kratom Shots can produce various effects. Kratom is often used to naturally boost energy and concentration, while the soothing properties of kava provide a general sense of full-body calm and mental chill.
We regulate herbal supplements and dietary supplements, like kratom, very differently than we regulate pharmaceuticals. Because it's not a kratom problem; it's a supplement industry problem. Are these 7-OH products dangerous for those who might be expecting something else given the insufficient labeling?
- In 2025, 60% of cases involving multiple substances resulted in “serious medical outcomes,” and about half required hospitalization.
- In some cases, kratom leaves are eaten fresh or dried, or boiled and consumed as a tea.
- Soon, the kava bar’s drink wasn’t enough; she started buying kratom powder from the gas station so she could ingest greater amounts at home.
- The largest number of kratom bills that have been introduced this legislative session do not look to ban or schedule the substance, but instead add regulations for how kratom and kratom-related products can be made and sold in the state.
- To learn more about Kratom’s active compounds, visit our detailed guide on the difference between Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine.
She explained that a lethal interaction between kratom and his prescribed medication led to his death. Experts say it is widely available across the state and has earned the nickname "gas station heroin" for its addictive properties and opioid-like effects at higher doses. Kratom is a plant based product often sold as a dietary supplement. Lawmakers and regulators across the country warn that in high doses, it can produce powerful opioid-like effects and may lead to dependency. If you experience severe side effects, discontinue use and seek medical attention. You shouldn’t drive or operate machinery after taking kratom.
Setting a new standard for kratom purity. As of January 2026, 30 states and the District of Columbia regulate kratom. Kratom Spot is proud to be among these celebrated vendors, and shopping with us or with any of them will ensure you receive only quality products.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway Open Kratom filed a lawsuit against Kansas City-based kratom producer American Shaman in late March. "The plant itself contains many alkaloids," said Cornell Stanciu, an addiction psychiatrist at Dartmouth College. The store clerk recommended Kupihea try a product called Feel Free to ease his pain and boost his energy. During the first seven months of 2025, poison control centers nationwide received 1,690 reports of exposure cases involving kratom, which already surpasses the total number of cases for the entire year of 2024. According to preliminary data from the Ohio Department of Health, kratom was found to be a cause of death in more than 200 unintentional overdose deaths in Ohio from 2019 to 2024. Products are sold online and in stores in various forms, including powders, pills, gummies, and drink products.
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Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) proposed Assembly Bill 2365 that would require kratom products be registered with the public health department. In the absence of regulation, last week the Orange County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale, distribution or possession of synthetic kratom products in any form in the county. But recently, public health officials have raised alarms about a component of the leaf called hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, an alkaloid that has the potential for abuse because of its ability to bind to opioid receptors in the body. Within the industry, manufacturers of products made from the leaf regularly spar with the makers of synthetic versions like 7-OH over how kratom should be regulated. Many people who descended into kratom addiction say gas station products sucked them in.
