Ohio has taken a definitive stance against synthetic kratom, with Governor Mike DeWine signing an executive order banning the substance, effective December 12, following concerns voiced by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy over its potential for abuse and risk of overdose deaths, as reported by Local 12. The new rule targets synthetic variants such as Seven-OH, which have been linked to serious health ramifications.
Drastically altering the landscape for shops and consumers, the executive order demands the immediate disposal of all synthetic kratom inventory. Businesses are scrambling to adapt, and this temporary ban is also a prelude to a more permanent rule expected to be proposed within the six months the executive order spans, according to details provided by a notice from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
The narrative of this legislative turn is equally personal for some Ohioans. Megan Kenney and Madison McCulloch, sisters who lost a family member to synthetic kratom addiction, have been cited as influencing this regulation, "Happy, sad, angry... I guess, a little grateful today," Megan expressed in an interview with FOX 28. Their advocacy at the Ohio Statehouse underscored the human toll lingering beneath policy changes.
Yet, not all feedback tilts positive, as local business owner Jason Ingram, who runs Centuries Harvest, shared concern over the impact this order will have on his livelihood. That it's not just a small thing, it's a billion-dollar industry, with Ingram telling FOX 28, "I do believe he's going to hurt a lot of businesses." The order strikes at a critical time as well, landing just as the holiday season ramps up.
For now, the sale and possession of natural kratom in its vegetative form, which consists only of mitragynine, remains legal under this emergency rule, though the Ohio Board of Pharmacy is considering further actions regarding kratom and kratom-related products under Governor DeWine's directive.
