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Trump Administration Backs Down on an Opioid Ban After Kratom Industry Lobbying
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In Short: The Drug Enforcement Administration plans to temporarily ban 7-OH, a component of kratom, after lobbying from the kratom industry.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced plans to temporarily ban 7-OH, a component of kratom that has opioid-like effects, sold in various forms like gummies, drinks, and capsules.
Kratom, a Southeast Asian plant with analgesic and antidepressant properties, has seen an explosion in the production and sales of unregulated 7-OH products in recent years.
The move is a significant victory for the mainstream kratom industry, which has been fighting against the ban with the backing of government officials, including President Donald Trump.
Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association, stated, “This DEA action should end the debate.”
The American Kratom Association is asking The New York Times to correct or retract an Oct. 28 article about proposed federal controls on two opioid compounds found in some kratom products.
The ban would take effect after a 30-day public comment period.
What this adds
The DEA's decision to ban 7-OH is a significant regulatory move that reflects the ongoing debate over the safety and regulation of kratom products.
The American Kratom Association's push for a correction from The New York Times underscores the importance of accurate reporting on complex regulatory issues.
What's confirmed
- October 30, 2026 7:59 PM / Staff Report The American Kratom Association is asking The New York Times to correct or retract an Oct. 28 article about proposed federal controls on two opioid compounds found in some kratom products.
- Sulzberger challenges the headline, “Trump Administration Backs Down on an Opioid Ban After Kratom Industry Lobbying.” It asks for a prominent correction, a revised headline and corrections sent to outlets that republished the story.
- October 30, 2026 7:59 PM / Staff Report The American Kratom Association is asking The New York Times to correct or retract an Oct.
What's still developing
- At the time, the FDA, which was involved in the raid, noted that there was inadequate information on whether or not kratom, marketed as a dietary supplement, presents “a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury.” Mullin has invested up to $1 million in Botanic Tonics.
- Kennedy has been photographed with JW Ross, a convicted criminal and founder of Botanic Tonics, which produces Feel Free—a brand of kratom drinks that was subject to a federal raid in 2023.
- In May, Trump endorsed “natural 7-OH,” meaning kratom, saying the administration was looking at “getting that approved.” As WIRED previously reported, both Health and Human Services secretary Robert F.
- "The New York Times owes its readers a correction that explains what the DEA actually proposed, rather than presenting a misleading political narrative that leaves out critical regulatory requirements," said Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy for the American Kratom Association.
- WASHINGTON, DC, October 30, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- The American Kratom Association is calling on The New York Times to publish a substantial correction or fully retract its Oct.