On Tuesday, a bipartisan panel of Iowa House lawmakers voted unanimously to advanced legislation that would classify kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance. This will place the popular wellness supplement among the state’s most tightly restricted drugs and make possession a criminal offense.

The proposal would add kratom, an herbal product derived from the tropical plant Mitragyna speciosa, to Iowa’s controlled substances list, subjecting it to harsh penalties similar to those for drugs like heroin. Kratom is commonly sold in pill, powder and extract forms and can produce stimulant effects when taken in low doses or opioid-like effects at higher amounts.

Supporters of the bill told lawmakers the measure is necessary to address growing public-health concerns. Josie Wagler, representing the Iowa Department of Public Safety, said calls to the Iowa Poison Control Center involving kratom had more than doubled in recent years, apparently rising from 24 reports in 2023–24 to 53 in 2025.

Backers of the legislation also cited reports of newborns experiencing withdrawal symptoms linked to kratom exposure, along with cases involving seizures, neurological disorders, respiratory depression and coma. According to testimony, kratom was listed as a contributing factor in 92 deaths in Iowa over the past decade.

Much of the concern focused on highly-concentrated or synthetic kratom products (better known as 7-OH), which witnesses said can act on opioid receptors in very small doses when compared to natural kratom. Supporters argued Iowa lacks a robust regulatory framework evidenced by kratom products being sold indiscriminately at gas stations, convenience stores, vape shops and online.

They also highlighted the fact that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers kratom a drug of concern and that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is moving toward scheduling some of the plant’s psychoactive compounds (mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine). Physicians and the Iowa Medical Society testified that a lack of FDA-approved kratom medications complicates treatment when patients experience serious side effects.

However, kratom advocates and opponents of the bill urged lawmakers to distinguish between natural kratom and synthetic or highly concentrated derivatives. Representatives of the advocacy trade group Botanicals for Better Health & Wellness supported restrictions on synthetic products but opposed banning the plant itself. They described natural kratom as a coffee-family botanical with a long history of use and cited emerging research, including recent studies and an FDA-run human trial, suggesting general safety for adult consumers.

Rather than prohibition, they argued Iowa should follow other states by regulating kratom through age limits, product testing and labeling requirements to curb dangerous formulations while preserving adult access to natural kratom.

Under House Study Bill 508, kratom is broadly defined to include any part of the plant Mitragyna speciosa, whether natural or synthetic, as well as compounds such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine and any mixtures or preparations derived from them. If passed, first-time possession would be a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and fines of up to $2,560. Penalties would escalate for repeat offenses, with a third or subsequent conviction classified as a Class D felony carrying up to five years in prison and fines of up to $10,245.

Amy Campbell, speaking on behalf of the Iowa Behavioral Health Association, urged lawmakers to consider deferred treatment options rather than relying solely on criminal penalties, while still supporting clear controls and restrictions on kratom.

The bill now moves to the House Public Safety Committee for further consideration.

A bipartisan panel of Iowa House lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously advanced legislation that would classify kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance, placing it among the state’s most tightly restricted drugs and making possession a criminal offense.