Oklahoma Lawmaker Proposes Kratom Ban for 2027
Oklahoma Lawmaker Proposes Kratom Ban After Rise in Overdose Deaths
An Oklahoma lawmaker wants to restrict kratom and its more concentrated compounds after state medical examiners reported a growing number of deaths involving substances derived from the plant.
Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, announced Friday, September 18, that he plans to introduce legislation during the 2027 Oklahoma legislative session seeking to place several kratom-related compounds under Schedule I of the state’s controlled substances law.
The proposed Oklahoma kratom ban would target substances currently sold in products available at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops, including highly concentrated forms of 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH.
Oklahoma Kratom Ban Would Target Concentrated Compounds
Kratom comes from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain compounds that interact with opioid receptors in the body.
Products containing kratom are marketed in forms including drinks, powders, capsules, tablets and gummies. Some people use botanical kratom for pain or to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms, although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved kratom for any medical use.
Turner’s proposal would place several substances under Schedule I of the Oklahoma Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act, including 7-OH, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl and dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine, also called MGM-15.
His September 18 announcement specifically identifies dangerous alkaloids and concentrated or synthetically enhanced compounds. The final scope of the proposed legislation will depend on the bill language filed for the 2027 session.
The Oklahoma House announcement of Turner’s proposed legislation says Turner is working with law enforcement officials and prosecutors to develop the measure.
Turner, a former sheriff and narcotics officer, said his law enforcement background influenced his decision to pursue the legislation.
“It is time to stop treating this like just another product on a convenience store shelf,” Turner said.
He also wants lawmakers to consider criminal and civil accountability for manufacturers and distributors when evidence establishes that their products contributed to serious injuries or deaths.
Medical Examiner Reports Rising Deaths Involving Kratom Compounds
The proposal follows new information from the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner concerning deaths associated with kratom-derived substances.
According to figures cited in Turner’s announcement, 38 deaths from January through June 2026 involved one of the identified compounds alone, while another 73 deaths involved at least one of the compounds in combination with another intoxicating substance.
Those figures describe substances identified in death investigations. They should not be interpreted as proof that kratom alone caused every death, particularly when other drugs or alcohol were also present.
Medical examiners reported that deaths associated with these compounds began increasing during the latter half of 2025 and continued rising in 2026.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics has also raised concerns about its ability to investigate suppliers of synthetically enhanced kratom products under existing controlled-substance laws.
Director Donnie Anderson said the agency’s current authority is limited because the products targeted by the proposal are not presently listed as controlled dangerous substances in Oklahoma.
The FDA has separately warned that products containing added or enhanced levels of 7-OH can produce potent opioid-like effects and may lead to addiction, seizures, withdrawal symptoms and other serious health consequences.
The agency distinguishes concentrated 7-OH products from natural kratom leaf, which contains the compound only in trace amounts.
The FDA’s warning about concentrated 7-OH products explains that no products containing 7-OH have been approved as safe and effective for medical treatment.
Kratom Legislation Expected During Oklahoma’s 2027 Session
The proposed Oklahoma kratom ban has not yet been enacted, and the final bill language has not been filed.
Turner intends to work with fellow lawmakers, medical professionals, law enforcement and families affected by kratom-related deaths before the upcoming session.
Among those supporting stronger restrictions is Juliana Shriver of Yukon, whose family believes kratom was a significant contributing factor in her son’s death in 2025.
Shriver has questioned whether consumers receive adequate information about the potential risks of products marketed as natural supplements or alternatives to alcohol and prescription medications.
The issue also raises questions about how lawmakers should distinguish traditional botanical kratom from concentrated or synthetically enhanced products, particularly as federal regulators pursue restrictions on certain 7-OH compounds.
The FDA has recommended federal scheduling action targeting concentrated 7-OH products rather than natural kratom leaf. Its federal kratom and 7-OH regulatory information outlines the separate treatment of botanical products and enhanced compounds.
Oklahoma’s current law restricts kratom sales to people 18 and older and includes product requirements, but Turner argues additional controls are needed for the substances identified in recent death investigations.
The 2027 legislative session begins February 1, with a bill introduction deadline of January 14.
Until legislation is introduced and considered, kratom’s legal status in Oklahoma remains unchanged by Turner’s announcement.
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