SOUTHERN OHIO — Despite the statewide crackdown on packaged kratom, plenty of Buckeye State residents are still finding ways to get their hands on the natural herb — right here in Ohio or just a stone’s throw away.
Kratom comes from the leaves of a tree grown in Southeast Asia, where it’s been brewed as tea for generations. Users say the organic leaf offers a natural alternative that’s far gentler than prescription opioids. Many credit it with helping them step away from pill addictions when nothing else worked. Unlike the artificial, synthetic versions that have sparked safety worries and negative headlines, real kratom is simply the dried leaf — no lab-made additives.
Ohio banned many packaged and processed forms of kratom, zeroing in on extracts and synthetics that don’t reflect the plant’s traditional use. But the raw leaf itself was not included in that ban. That means determined users can still obtain the leaf form in Ohio and prepare it at home by drying and grinding it into powder if they choose.
For those who want the convenience of ready-made powder or capsules without the extra step, the answer is even simpler. Just cross the bridge from Cincinnati into Kentucky.
The American Kratom Association (AKA) supports the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) announcement of its intent to temporarily schedule high-potency 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH, and its follow-on products under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. 7-OH is a synthetic version that has some say has taken the place of natural kratom.
The DEA action confirms what the AKA has repeatedly warned state and federal policymakers: chemically manipulated 7-OH opioid products are not natural kratom leaf products. They are high-potency opioid products that have been falsely marketed as “kratom” while exposing consumers to serious and unnecessary risks.
“This DEA action should end the debate,” said Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy for the American Kratom Association. “Chemically manipulated 7-OH opioids are not kratom. They are dangerous products that exploited the reputation of natural kratom leaf, misled consumers, and created a public health threat that responsible regulators can no longer ignore.”
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., echoed that position in the HHS statement commending the DEA, saying:
“I commend the DEA for taking decisive action to address these addictive and harmful substances. 7-OH, MP, MGM-15, and MGM-16 are dangerous opioids that fuel addiction and put American lives at risk. HHS reviewed the science and recommended this action. The Trump Administration will continue using every available authority to stop these deceptive products, hold bad actors accountable, and protect American families.”
A short drive to Covington, Newport or nearby Florence opens the door to more than a dozen vape and smoke shops that continue to carry real, organic kratom. Kentucky still allows sales of the natural powder and capsules in bulk. While the state has passed restrictions aimed at certain concentrated forms, those changes don’t fully take effect until January of next year. That gives shoppers plenty of time to stock up on the clean, leaf-based product that advocates praise as a game-changer for pain relief and recovery.
“It’s not the scary stuff you hear about on the news,” one longtime user from the Cincinnati area said. “This is the real organic powder. It helped me get off the pills when doctors couldn’t.”
The easy access across the river has turned the Northern Kentucky border towns into a go-to destination for Ohioans seeking what they describe as authentic kratom. Shops there report steady business from customers who appreciate the natural option over riskier alternatives.
Whether you’re starting with the leaf form available in Ohio or making the quick trip for prepared powder, the message from users is clear: the traditional plant is still out there for those who know where to look.
In conclusion, while powder and packaged forms of kratom remain banned in Ohio, the leaf form is still available for those who want to dry it out themselves and make their own powder.
