7-HOPE Alliance, (“7-HOPE”), a nonprofit coalition dedicated to protecting legal access to kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), today announced growing unity between kratom and 7-OH advocates following recent state and local crackdowns.
Key Highlights
- Kratom advocates nationwide are joining 7-HOPE Alliance after witnessing anti-7-OH efforts are fueling bans on all kratom products.
- State and local crackdowns in California, Ohio, and beyond are being driven by misinformation and donor-influenced kratom industry groups.
- 7-HOPE and leading researchers are calling for science-based regulation to preserve safe, legal access to kratom and 7-OH nationwide.
- 7-OH and kratom advocates are united in their concern about the dire consequences banning can have for their millions of US consumers, and call for regulation instead
As bans and embargoes advance in large markets like California and Ohio, as well as smaller towns and counties across the country, many longtime kratom supporters are joining the 7-HOPE movement, realizing that when some industry organizations back anti-7-OH legislation, they fuel a broader national effort that threatens access to all kratom products, and can lead to consumers seeking other solutions in unsafe underground markets.
Advocates say these special interest and corporate kratom groups have supported bills that quietly exclude even natural kratom formulations from store shelves while protecting very specific products manufactured by their largest donors.
“We are all kratom,” said Jackie Subeck, founder of 7-HOPE Alliance. “At CHAMPS in July, before any FDA announcement, we warned that the ongoing misinformation campaign against 7-OH would inevitably create confusion and lead to a broader crackdown across the entire kratom industry. That is exactly what we are seeing happen now. Now and always, we are calling on both kratom and 7-OH advocates from across the spectrum to stand together before it is too late. If we do not act, millions of Americans could lose access to this remarkable plant that gives them hope.”
Since the FDA announcement, state and local governments have begun taking sweeping actions against kratom and 7-OH. In California, the Department of Public Health has declared both substances illegal and is removing products from store shelves statewide, despite no new legislative mandate. Similar proposals are advancing in Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and other regions across the country. These developments underscore the growing confusion and overreach surrounding kratom policy, highlighting why unity and clear, science-based regulation are more important than ever.
Seeing what is going on, a wide range of respected voices — from physicians to veterans’ advocates — have also warned that banning 7-OH would repeat the failures of the War on Drugs. Organizations including Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, the Grunt Style Foundation, the Consumer Choice Center, and the Reason Foundation have all urged lawmakers to pursue evidence-based regulation and transparency instead of criminalization.
Additionally, major national news outlets including Forbes, Newsmax, USA Today, RealClear Health, and The Matt Gaetz Show have featured experts challenging the FDA’s campaign against 7-OH and kratom, citing scientific data and common-sense policy concerns. These reports echo the growing scientific consensus that responsible regulation — not prohibition — is the only approach that protects consumers and public health.
- Forbes: "The Science Behind The Fight Over 7-OH" – A national feature asking whether science, not panic, should guide U.S. drug policy, highlighting 7-OH’s safety record, potential role in reducing opioid deaths, and growing calls for research over prohibition.
- Newsmax: "D.C.'s War on Some Drugs Short on Sense, Compassion" – Policy strategist Charlie Kolean criticized the FDA’s "crusade" against 7-OH as political theater over science, warning that banning a low-risk, natural alternative will push Americans back toward fentanyl and other deadly opioids.
- OANN / Matt Gaetz Show commentary and interview with Cato Institute’s Dr. Jeffrey Singer: Part 1 and Part 2 – Former Congressman Matt Gaetz argues that the recent push to classify the kratom derivative as a Schedule I controlled substance is about money and power, not safety concerns.
- USA Today: "RFK Jr. wants to ban kratom and its compounds. The consequences could be deadly." – Consumers and researchers weigh in on 7-OH’s role as a harm-reduction alternative.
- RealClear Health: "Sensible Harm Reduction Means Preserving Safer Substitutes" – A national op-ed warning that a federal 7-OH ban would drive the market underground, empower cartels, and make use more dangerous — urging regulation and education over prohibition.
7-HOPE Alliance is calling for immediate collaboration between lawmakers, researchers, and the kratom community to establish clear, science-based regulations that protect consumers while preserving access. The organization urges regulators to reject industry-backed monopolies and instead build a transparent “solutions-based” framework that supports research, product safety, and responsible adult use.
7-HOPE Alliance invites all who value choice, evidence, medical freedom, and harm-reduction to stand with them and ensure this entire plant remains a legal and trusted option for Americans seeking wellness and hope.
“We have open seats at the table for the kratom community as we work to protect and regulate this entire industry, ensuring legal and safe access of kratom/7-OH products for all who rely on it,” added Subeck.
To learn more or join the movement, visit 7hopealliance.org or sign the petition at Save7OH.org.
About 7-HOPE Alliance
7-HOPE Alliance (7-Hydroxy Outreach for Public Education) is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) pending) dedicated to advancing public education, user support, and policy advocacy around 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a naturally occurring alkaloid in the kratom plant. Through a foundation of science, storytelling, and community, 7-HOPE empowers individuals, healthcare professionals, and policymakers with accurate, balanced information on 7-OH and its role in harm reduction, natural wellness, and safe, legal access to alternatives. The organization’s mission centers on four pillars: science, education, advocacy, and user support. By confronting misinformation, promoting responsible use, and providing uplifting real-life testimonials, 7-HOPE aims to ensure 7-OH remains available to the many individuals who find it to be a safe and effective alternative to dangerous painkillers and illegal drugs. For more information or to get involved, visit 7hopealliance.org.
Media Contact
7-HOPE Alliance
info@7hopealliance.org
