Overview

• Federal regulators propose scheduling concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and accept public comment in ongoing DEA rulemaking, while natural kratom leaf products remain outside proposed controls.
• Louisiana’s legislature approved SB154 to classify mitragynine and 7-OH as Schedule I substances and ban kratom distribution and possession, sending the bill to Gov. Jeff Landry.
• Viral TikTok accounts, including posts by influencer Misha Brown, recount teens requesting Feel Free tonics at gas stations and at least one hospitalization for withdrawal after heavy daily consumption.
• Botanic Tonics contests widespread addiction claims and cites fewer than 1,000 adverse-event complaints from over 129 million servings of its Feel Free Classic tonic, which it says contains only natural leaf kratom.
• Public-health experts and advocacy groups call for standardized labeling and third-party testing amid a patchwork of state restrictions and growing retail availability of kratom drinks.