Kratom is an herbal supplement derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa plant, native to Southeast Asia. In recent years, a new category of synthetic and semi-synthetic kratom alkaloid products has emerged — chemically altered formulations that are far more potent than traditional kratom leaf and carry significantly higher risks of dependence, overdose, and dangerous drug interactions. These products are now widely available in New Hampshire gas stations, convenience stores, and online, with packaging designed to appeal to youth.
Kratom-related calls to U.S. poison control centers increased more than 1,200% between 2015 and 2025, reaching a record 3,434 exposure reports in 2025 alone. CDC researchers link the surge directly to the rise of high-potency synthetic and semi-synthetic alkaloid formulations.
Take Action
Share Your Story
Share your experience with Kratom:
- Tell us your story. Describe a specific moment when you encountered kratom, whether as a person in recovery, a parent, a teacher, a healthcare provider treating someone, a young person seeing the marketing, or a business owner competing against unregulated sellers.
- What was the impact? What happened as a result? How did it affect health, school, family, your work, or your community?
- What would change if these bills pass? How would one or several of these bills make a difference for your family, classroom, patients, or business? What would you say to a legislator deciding whether to support these protections?
Spread the Word: Advocacy Brief & Social Media
Need help? Contact Sarah Cain (Community Engagement Coordinator) for help taking action or Kate Frey (VP of Advocacy) with policy questions.
2027 Bills
The kratom industry has grown into a multi-billion-dollar market, giving manufacturers significant financial incentive to resist regulation and exploit gaps in state law. Manufacturers are free to sell dangerous, highly potent synthetic and semi-synthetic kratom products without restriction.
2027 legislation would aim to ban the sale of synthetic and semi-synthetic kratom products in New Hampshire, joining a growing number of states taking action to protect consumers from the most dangerous kratom formulations.
You can learn more about how New Hampshire's legislative process works on our About the Legislature webpage, or take one of our advocacy trainings.
Past
Bills
Introduced in 2026 as the comprehensive "Kratom Consumer Protection Act," Senate Bill 557 would have established licensing, age restrictions, and safety standards for kratom products, including a ban on synthetic and semi-synthetic kratom alkaloids added via Senate amendment. Despite bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, the bill died in the last week of the session when the House and Senate could not agree on one version to advance.
