California Unleashes Statewide Crackdown on Kratom Sales, Sending Ripples Through Industry

California Unleashes Statewide Crackdown on Kratom Sales, Sending Ripples Through Industry

Sacramento, CA – January 22, 2026 – A recent news item from krcrtv.com detailing "mixed reactions" from local retailers and the public regarding a kratom ban in Shasta County, California, highlights a much broader and immediate statewide enforcement action that has significant implications for kratom merchants and consumers across the Golden State. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), in conjunction with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), has escalated its stance, declaring kratom products illegal for sale as foods, dietary supplements, or drugs, and actively enforcing their removal from shelves.

What Happened: A Statewide Enforcement Takes Hold

While the Shasta County report focuses on local impact, the underlying cause is a statewide directive. On October 24, 2025, the CDPH issued a consumer warning, asserting that foods, dietary supplements, and medical drugs containing kratom or its derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), are "dangerous and illegal to sell or manufacture in California." This was followed by a critical advisory from the ABC on January 15, 2026, mandating that all ABC licensees (including convenience stores and liquor stores) immediately cease sales of these products and remove them from inventory. Non-compliance risks severe administrative disciplinary action, potentially leading to the suspension or revocation of ABC licenses.

This aggressive enforcement is based on the CDPH's interpretation of existing state law, which prohibits the sale of unapproved "poisonous or deleterious substance, or any food additive." This effectively bypasses the need for new legislation to ban kratom, creating a de facto prohibition on its sale in many common retail channels. This action follows similar local prohibitions enacted in areas like San Diego County, Los Angeles County, Newport Beach, San Diego city, and Oceanside, though the current CDPH/ABC action represents a far-reaching statewide crackdown.

Why This Matters to Kratom Merchants and Consumers

For kratom merchants in California, the implications are immediate and severe. Businesses, particularly those holding ABC licenses, face the direct threat of regulatory penalties, including loss of their ability to operate. Raids and product seizures, as seen in previous enforcement actions, are a real possibility, leading to significant financial losses. This creates immense legal and operational uncertainty, forcing many retailers to pull products from shelves to avoid penalties.

Consumers, in turn, will experience a drastic reduction in the availability of kratom products. While the federal legal status of kratom remains complex and unscheduled, California's state agencies are moving decisively to restrict access, framing both kratom and especially 7-OH as dangerous.

Compliance Implications for High-Risk Merchants

The primary compliance implication for California merchants is straightforward: the CDPH and ABC currently deem the sale of kratom as a food, dietary supplement, or drug to be illegal statewide. This means, for now, the most critical "compliance" is cessation of sales in these categories within California to avoid enforcement actions.

However, for high-risk merchants operating in other states where kratom remains legal, or in anticipation of potential future regulatory shifts in California (such as the proposed AB 1088 which aims to regulate rather than outright ban, including age restrictions, labeling, and alkaloid limits), the importance of robust compliance measures, particularly concerning Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and lab testing, cannot be overstated.

High-risk merchants must prioritize:

• Comprehensive Lab Testing: Products should undergo rigorous testing for contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial pathogens.
• Accurate Alkaloid Profiling: Detailed COAs are essential to verify the precise levels of mitragynine and, critically, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). The CDPH and FDA have expressed particular concerns about 7-OH, with the FDA even recommending Schedule I classification. Future regulations, like California's AB 1088, may impose strict limits on 7-OH content, such as not exceeding 2% of total alkaloids.
• Transparent Labeling: Labels must accurately reflect the product's contents, dosage, and include appropriate warnings. This also includes avoiding claims that market kratom as a "cure-all" or for specific medical conditions.
• Age Verification and Child-Resistant Packaging: Even in unregulated markets, implementing age restrictions (e.g., 21+) and using child-resistant packaging are best practices that align with proposed legislation like AB 1088, demonstrating a commitment to responsible sales.

The current situation in California serves as a stark reminder of the volatile regulatory landscape for kratom. While the immediate focus for California businesses is navigating the present ban, all high-risk merchants in the kratom industry must remain vigilant, prioritize consumer safety through stringent quality control, and prepare for evolving compliance demands to ensure the long-term viability of their operations.