Partly: kratom isn't a controlled substance in California, but the state says selling it is illegal. On October 24, 2025, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) declared that "products containing kratom and 7-OH are illegal to sell or manufacture for consumption," and it has been removing them from stores since.
Not legal advice. Research summary, checked September 28, 2026. Kratom isn't FDA-approved for any use and is banned in several states and cities. See our state-by-state guide or the kratom legal status checker.
Current California kratom law
California didn't pass a kratom law. It used existing food and drug law instead. That's why it doesn't fit neatly into "legal" or "banned":
- Selling or manufacturing kratom for consumption: illegal, according to CDPH. The governor's office said in March 2026 that foods, dietary supplements and drugs "containing kratom and 7-OH are illegal to sell or manufacture in California," and that CDPH acts under the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law (Governor Newsom, March 3, 2026).
- Possessing kratom: not addressed. CDPH's releases don't discuss personal possession, and kratom isn't a state controlled substance. We found no source saying possession by an adult is a crime statewide.
- Age limits, testing and labels: none, because the state's position is that no legal retail market exists.
The same March 2026 release reported 95% compliance in enforcement checks and more than $5 million in seized kratom and 7-OH products. California's alcohol regulator also warned liquor licensees in January 2026 that selling these products could put their licenses at risk.
In the JSON data behind our legal status checker, we mark California as "banned" because of the statewide sales prohibition. We note that it's a sales ban, not a controlled-substance ban.
City bans
Several California cities banned kratom before CDPH acted, and vendors still block them. Vendor shipping pages list:
- San Diego: Happy Hippo, Left Coast, Kats Botanicals, Kraken Kratom, Super Speciosa
- Oceanside: Left Coast, Kats, Kraken, Super Speciosa
- Tustin: Kats, Super Speciosa
- Jurupa Valley, Newport Beach, Orange, Stanton, Temecula: Super Speciosa
We didn't check each city's ordinance directly, so treat this list as vendor-reported.
7-OH in California
CDPH's declaration covers 7-OH products along with kratom. Separately, the DEA placed three 7-OH-related compounds in federal Schedule I on August 26, 2026 (Federal Register), and its proposed 7-OH order was still pending in early September. See what is 7-OH.
Buying kratom online in California
This is the gray area Californians ask about most. As of September 28, 2026, none of the eight vendors we track listed California statewide on its no-ship page (Happy Hippo, Left Coast, Kats, Kraken, Super Speciosa, Kona). They block only the cities above. Golden Monk and MIT45 publish no list.
CDPH's release, though, specifically said it was finding illegal kratom products "online." A vendor accepting a California order doesn't mean CDPH considers that sale lawful. We can't tell you how the state would treat an out-of-state online sale to an individual. If that matters to you, ask a California attorney.
Our where to buy kratom online and best kratom vendors pages compare vendors for readers in states where retail sale is clearly legal.
Recent changes and pending bills
- October 24, 2025: CDPH declares kratom and 7-OH products illegal to sell or manufacture (revised January 7, 2026).
- January 2026: ABC warning to liquor licensees.
- March 3, 2026: Governor reports 95% compliance.
AB 1088 would have created a regulated market: 21+ sales, alkaloid limits, child-resistant packaging and labels. It was referred to the Senate Health Committee on June 11, 2025 (CalMatters Digital Democracy), and we found no record of it passing.
Sources
- CDPH news release NR25-016
- Governor Newsom, March 3, 2026
- California ABC warning
- AB 1088 on Digital Democracy
- Vendor shipping pages linked above
All checked September 28, 2026. General information only, not legal advice.