TRUSTED CONTENTIs kratom legal in Pennsylvania in 2026? Yes. Kratom and 7-OH are both legal under Pennsylvania state law, with no statewide age limit.
As of October 2026, Pennsylvania (PA) has no kratom statute. Kratom leaf and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) are not controlled substances under state law, so stores can still sell both. Philadelphia is the exception: a city ordinance signed on September 15, 2026 restricts kratom sales there from November 12, 2026.
7-OH is not banned in PA yet. House Bill 2657 would limit natural kratom to adults 21 and older and ban 7-OH products 180 days after it becomes law. The House amended it on September 30, 2026, and it still needs a final House vote, the Senate, and the Governor.
Last reviewed: October 2026 • Written and fact-checked by the RehabSeekers.com editorial team against primary legal sources and reviewed for clinical accuracy. See our editorial policy and accreditations & verification standards.
Pennsylvania kratom laws are close to changing for the first time. The Commonwealth has never banned or regulated kratom, and the General Assembly has not enacted any of the kratom bills filed in recent sessions. In 2026 that picture shifted: the Pennsylvania House advanced a bill to regulate kratom leaf and ban 7-OH, Philadelphia passed its own restrictions, district attorneys asked the Secretary of Health for an emergency ban, and federal regulators scheduled three kratom-derived compounds. This guide explains what is legal in PA today, what could change and when, and where to find free, confidential help in Pennsylvania if kratom has become hard to stop.
What Pennsylvania Kratom Law Says Right Now
As of October 2026, kratom is legal in Pennsylvania because no state law addresses it. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are not listed in the schedules of Pennsylvania’s Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, and Pennsylvania has no Kratom Consumer Protection Act. State law sets no minimum purchase age, no testing or labeling rules, and no cap on 7-OH content. Possessing kratom is not an offense. As one bill sponsor, Representative Jim Prokopiak, put it, kratom is sold with “no age limit, no labeling and no oversight.”
Statewide status
Kratom leaf and 7-OH are legal to buy, sell, and possess under state law. Neither is a controlled substance.
Product rules
None in state law: no age limit, testing, labeling, or 7-OH cap. House Bill 2657 would add an age limit, labeling, and a 7-OH cap, but no testing rule.
Local status
Philadelphia’s ordinance, Bill No. 260163, takes effect on November 12, 2026. Scranton and West Chester debated bans but have not adopted them.
Is 7-OH legal in Pennsylvania? Yes, under state law, for now. Pennsylvania has not scheduled 7-hydroxymitragynine, and 7-OH tablets, shots, and gummies are still sold in smoke shops and gas stations. Two limits apply. The Food and Drug Administration says kratom and 7-OH cannot lawfully be marketed as drugs, dietary supplements, or food additives. And three related compounds, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16, have been federal Schedule I substances since August 26, 2026, which makes them illegal to sell or possess anywhere in the United States, including Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Kratom Ban Update: House Bill 2657
House Bill 2657, the Regulation and Oversight of Kratom Act, is the Pennsylvania kratom bill closest to becoming law. Representative Bridget Kosierowski introduced it on June 22, 2026. The House Health Committee approved it 26 to 0 on September 29, and the full House amended it on September 30 by votes of 201 to 2 and 200 to 3, then sent it to the Appropriations Committee. It is not a kratom ban: it would keep plain kratom leaf legal for adults and ban 7-OH and other concentrated or synthetic products.
Proposed, not yet law
As amended (Printer’s Number 3980), House Bill 2657 would allow only retailers registered with the Department of Health to sell natural kratom products, defined as dried leaf or raw leaf powder with no extract and no more than 0.05% 7-hydroxymitragynine by dry weight, to people 21 and older. Anything above that level, any product containing mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, and any synthetic alkaloid would be a banned “synthetic or semi-synthetic kratom product.” The Department of Health and the Department of Revenue would run the program, funded by a 12% tax on retail sales of natural kratom products. Penalties are aimed at sellers: making or selling a banned product would be a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $15,000, up to five years in prison, or both, and breaking the natural kratom rules would carry a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per offense. The bill does not make possession for personal use a crime. The ban, the sales rules, and the tax would all start 180 days after enactment.
Three points are still open. The bill needs a final House vote, Senate passage, and the Governor’s signature before the 2025-2026 session ends on November 30, 2026; otherwise it must be reintroduced. Senate Bill 233, a separate proposal by Senator Tracy Pennycuick that would cap 7-OH at 2% of alkaloids and set the age at 21, has not reached a Senate floor vote. And in late August 2026 the district attorneys of Bucks, Chester, and Berks counties asked Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen to place 7-OH in Schedule I by emergency action, a request the Bucks County commissioners repeated by resolution on September 21. The Department of Health has said it is reviewing its options and had announced no decision at the time of this review.
Pennsylvania Kratom Rules at a Glance, and When 7-OH Could Be Banned
Pennsylvania has no kratom rules in state law today, so the table below shows the current position next to what the pending bill and federal action would change. Dates come from the General Assembly’s bill pages, the Federal Register, and county and city records.
| Item | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kratom leaf | Legal | Not a controlled substance; no state kratom statute |
| 7-OH products | Legal under state law | HB 2657 would ban them 180 days after enactment; federal order pending |
| Pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 & MGM-16 | Illegal (federal) | Federal Schedule I since Aug 26, 2026 |
| Minimum age | None statewide | HB 2657 and SB 233 would both set 21 |
| Testing & labeling | Not required | HB 2657 adds warning labels & child-resistant packs |
| Possession | Not an offense | Pending bills target sellers, not adults who use kratom |
| Philadelphia | City ordinance signed Sep 15, 2026 | Bill No. 260163; kratom sales restricted from Nov 12, 2026 |
| HB 2657 | In House Appropriations | Amended Sep 30, 2026; session ends Nov 30, 2026 |
When is 7-OH being banned in PA? No date is set. If House Bill 2657 is enacted as amended, its ban on 7-OH products would start 180 days after the Governor signs it. A federal order could arrive sooner: the Drug Enforcement Administration proposed in July 2026 to place concentrated 7-OH in Schedule I, and a final order would apply in Pennsylvania as it would in every state.
Where Pennsylvania fits nationally (approximate share of states and Washington, D.C., October 2026)
Legal, no kratom-specific state law, including Pennsylvania (~18 states)
Legal with age limits or product rules (~23)
Full statewide ban (10 states)
Approximate, October 2026; trackers count differently. Full bans: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts (one-year emergency order), Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin. See every state on our kratom bans by state page.
Federal vs. Pennsylvania Kratom Law
Kratom is not scheduled under the federal Controlled Substances Act, and Pennsylvania has no law of its own, so federal action currently matters more here than in most states. The Drug Enforcement Administration proposed Schedule I for kratom in August 2016 and withdrew the plan that October. Attention has since moved to concentrated 7-OH. The Food and Drug Administration recommended scheduling 7-OH products in July 2025, and the Drug Enforcement Administration published a notice of intent on July 6, 2026 to place 7-OH above a set threshold in Schedule I. No final order had been published by early October 2026.
Federal position
Kratom leaf is unscheduled, though the Food and Drug Administration says it cannot lawfully be sold as a drug, dietary supplement, or food additive. Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 have been Schedule I since August 26, 2026. A federal 7-OH order is pending.
Pennsylvania position
No state kratom law. Kratom and 7-OH are unscheduled, and we found no Pennsylvania notice adding the three federally scheduled compounds to the state schedules, although federal law applies statewide. The Secretary of Health has been asked to schedule 7-OH; House Bill 2657 is pending.
Can You Buy Kratom in PA? Buying, Local Rules and Crossing State Lines
Yes, you can still buy kratom and 7-OH in Pennsylvania at smoke shops, vape stores, gas stations, and online, and state law sets no age limit. Local rules are starting to differ. Philadelphia City Council passed Bill No. 260163 by 16 votes to 0 on June 4, 2026, and the Mayor signed it on September 15. From November 12, 2026 the ordinance treats kratom as an “intoxicating substance,” limits sales to people 21 and older, bans products with synthetic alkaloids or with 7-OH above 2% of the alkaloid content, and bars the sale of kratom products that lack Food and Drug Administration approval or standing as a dietary supplement or food additive. A city retailer permit will also be required once the city issues regulations. Retailers say the ordinance will end most kratom sales in the city. Scranton paused two proposed kratom ordinances in April 2026, and West Chester sent a proposed ban back to committee in August 2026. In Bucks County, a judge barred a Buckingham Township smoke shop from selling kratom to minors in September 2026, in a case the District Attorney brought under the state consumer protection law.
Travel needs a quick check, because every neighboring state now has rules Pennsylvania lacks. Ohio allows only plain dried leaf and treats 7-OH and processed kratom products as Schedule I. New York limits sales to people 21 and older and passed a 2026 law against selling concentrated 7-OH products. Maryland, West Virginia, and Delaware all set the age at 21, Delaware under a law signed on September 8, 2026. New Jersey has no kratom statute. None of Pennsylvania’s neighbors bans natural kratom leaf, but states farther away do, including Connecticut, Tennessee, and Indiana. Check the law at your destination before traveling with any kratom product.
The Health Picture Behind Pennsylvania’s Kratom Debate
Kratom’s main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, act on the brain’s opioid receptors. People commonly report stimulant-like effects at lower amounts and opioid-like or sedating effects at higher ones. Regular use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal, which the National Institute on Drug Abuse describes as usually mild to moderate. Concentrated 7-OH is a different matter: the Food and Drug Administration says it can be more potent than morphine. About 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2021, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Health issued Health Advisory 802 on August 4, 2025 after the state’s poison centers reported a rising number of calls about kratom and 7-OH.
Because Pennsylvania has no testing rule or 7-OH cap, strength and purity can vary widely from one product to the next. If 7-OH products are later banned, people who stop suddenly can go into withdrawal, with restlessness, muscle aches, sweating, irritability, runny nose, stomach cramps, and poor sleep, often starting within 6 to 12 hours of the last use. Dependence is a health condition, not a moral failing, and tapering or stopping with medical support is safer than stopping abruptly and alone. Read more in our guide to opioid rehab and treatment, the closest clinical match for kratom dependence.
Free Pennsylvania Help & Government Resources
Free, confidential help for kratom and 7-OH dependence is available across Pennsylvania. The lines below cost nothing to call, and asking about treatment is a health matter, not a legal one.
PA Get Help Now
Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs helpline. Free & confidential, 24/7; text 717-216-0905
1-800-662-4357
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
24/7 crisis support statewide
Call or text 988
PA 211
Local treatment & support referrals, 24/7; text your zip code to 898-211
Dial 211
County drug and alcohol offices
Assessment, referral & help with treatment funding in every county
Find your county office
Poison Help line
Pennsylvania’s poison centers, for adverse reactions, 24/7
1-800-222-1222
Find treatment
Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs provider directory & Treatment Atlas search
Locate treatment services
The PA Get Help Now helpline is run for the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and answers by phone, text, or online chat around the clock, with or without insurance. Its specialists can connect callers to the county drug and alcohol office, known as the Single County Authority, which assesses treatment needs and can help with funding. Naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose, is sold without a prescription at Pennsylvania pharmacies, and the Department of Health’s naloxone program mails free kits to residents through nextdistro.org/pennsylvania.
Finding Treatment for Kratom Dependence in Pennsylvania
No medication is approved specifically for kratom dependence. Because kratom acts on opioid receptors, clinicians often draw on the approaches used for opioid use disorder, and published case reports describe buprenorphine being used for people dependent on kratom. The right level of care depends on how long and how much you have used, and whether other substances or mental health conditions are involved. Common paths include:
Stabilizing safely
Medical detox and detox by substance programs manage withdrawal symptoms under clinical supervision during the hardest early days.
Ongoing care
Outpatient medication clinics, including those offering buprenorphine, intensive outpatient programs, and partial hospitalization programs provide treatment while you keep living at home.
For higher-intensity needs, residential rehab provides a structured, substance-free setting, while sober living homes support the move back to daily life. Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program, Medical Assistance, covers drug and alcohol treatment through its Behavioral HealthChoices managed care plans, so cost need not be a barrier: see rehabs that take Medicaid, free rehab options, and state-funded programs.
Browse drug and alcohol rehab centers in Pennsylvania by city, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Harrisburg, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Reading, Lancaster, York, and Bethlehem. Neighborhood pages cover Northern Liberties and Old City in Philadelphia, and Squirrel Hill and Lawrenceville in Pittsburgh. Near a state line, treatment in New Jersey, Ohio, or Maryland may be closer. You can also search the full U.S. locations directory, all treatment programs, and our recovery resources.
Pennsylvania Kratom Laws: Frequently Asked Questions
Is kratom legal in Pennsylvania in 2026?
Yes. As of October 2026 kratom is legal to buy, sell, and possess in Pennsylvania. No state law regulates it, it is not a controlled substance, and there is no statewide age limit. Philadelphia’s own ordinance restricts sales in the city from November 12, 2026.
Is 7-OH legal in Pennsylvania, or is it illegal?
7-OH is legal under Pennsylvania state law. 7-hydroxymitragynine is not scheduled in Pennsylvania, and no state law bans its sale or possession. The Food and Drug Administration says 7-OH products cannot lawfully be marketed, and a federal scheduling order is pending.
Is 7-OH banned in PA yet?
No. As of October 2026, 7-OH has not been banned in PA. House Bill 2657 would ban it but has not passed the full House or the Senate, and the Secretary of Health has not acted on a request to schedule it.
When is 7-OH being banned in PA?
There is no set date. House Bill 2657, as amended on September 30, 2026, would ban 7-OH products 180 days after it is signed, and it must pass before the session ends on November 30, 2026. A federal Schedule I order for concentrated 7-OH, proposed on July 6, 2026, could take effect first.
Can you still buy kratom and 7-OH in PA?
Yes. Kratom and 7-OH are still sold in Pennsylvania smoke shops, gas stations, and online, and state law sets no age limit. Philadelphia’s ordinance is expected to end most kratom sales in the city from November 12, 2026.
Is there a legal age to buy kratom in Pennsylvania?
Not in state law. Pennsylvania has no statewide minimum age for kratom. House Bill 2657 and Senate Bill 233 would both set the age at 21, and Philadelphia’s ordinance uses 21.
What would House Bill 2657 change?
It would let registered retailers sell only natural kratom leaf products, with no more than 0.05% 7-OH by dry weight, to people 21 and older. 7-OH products, extracts, and synthetic alkaloids would be banned. It adds warning labels, child-resistant packaging, and a 12% tax on natural kratom products, all starting 180 days after enactment.
Are MGM-15 and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl legal in Pennsylvania?
No. The Drug Enforcement Administration placed mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 in federal Schedule I by temporary order on August 26, 2026, for two years. Federal law applies in Pennsylvania. We found no notice adding them to Pennsylvania’s own schedules.
Are there any local kratom bans in Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia is the main one: City Council passed Bill No. 260163 on June 4, 2026, the Mayor signed it on September 15, and it restricts kratom sales from November 12, 2026. Scranton paused its proposed ordinances in April 2026, and West Chester returned a proposed ban to committee in August 2026. Check your municipality before buying.
Can I travel with kratom from Pennsylvania?
Natural kratom leaf is allowed in every state that borders Pennsylvania, but the rules differ. Ohio treats 7-OH and processed kratom products as Schedule I, and New York, Maryland, West Virginia, and Delaware set the age at 21. States such as Connecticut, Tennessee, and Indiana ban kratom outright.
Will getting treatment for kratom get me in legal trouble?
No. Kratom is legal in Pennsylvania, and calling a helpline or entering treatment does not create a criminal record. Federal rule 42 CFR Part 2 protects substance use disorder treatment records.
Important: This article is for general information and harm-reduction purposes and is not legal or medical advice. Pennsylvania’s rules may change soon, with House Bill 2657 pending, a federal 7-OH order proposed, and local ordinances differing by municipality. For a specific legal question, consult a licensed Pennsylvania attorney; for a health decision, speak with a qualified clinician. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.
References and Citations
- Pennsylvania General Assembly. House Bill 2657 (2025-2026 Regular Session), Regulation and Oversight of Kratom Act, bill information and votes. palegis.us
- Pennsylvania General Assembly. House Bill 2657, Printer’s Number 3980, as amended September 30, 2026. palegis.us
- Pennsylvania General Assembly. Senate Bill 233 (2025-2026 Regular Session), Kratom Consumer Protection Act. palegis.us
- Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Pa. House panel advances bill to regulate kratom, September 30, 2026. penncapital-star.com
- Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Health experts, lawmakers push for Pa. kratom regulation, September 8, 2026. penncapital-star.com
- Pennsylvania Department of Health. Health Advisory 802, calls related to kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine to Pennsylvania’s poison centers, August 4, 2025. pa.gov
- The Philadelphia Inquirer. City Council passes bills on smoke shops, kratom and hemp products, June 5, 2026. inquirer.com
- City of Philadelphia, City Council. Bill No. 260163, sale of intoxicating substances, passed June 4, 2026, signed September 15, 2026. phila.legistar.com
- Bucks County District Attorney. Injunction on kratom sales to minors by a Buckingham Township smoke shop, September 2026. buckscounty.gov
- Federal Register. Temporary placement of mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and MGM-16 in Schedule I, August 26, 2026. federalregister.gov
- Federal Register. Notice of intent, temporary placement of 7-hydroxymitragynine above a specified threshold in Schedule I, July 6, 2026. federalregister.gov
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA and Kratom. fda.gov
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Kratom. nida.nih.gov
- Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Get Help Now helpline. pa.gov
- Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Locate drug and alcohol treatment services. pa.gov
- Pennsylvania Department of Health. Naloxone. pa.gov
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Medicaid (Medical Assistance) and Behavioral HealthChoices. pa.gov
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Helpline. samhsa.gov
Kratom Bans & Laws by State
Kratom’s legal status varies widely across the U.S. Select any state below to see its current kratom laws, pending legislation, and local treatment and support resources.
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