Source: The Kansas City Star
Excerpt:
Missouri lawmakers chose not to restrict access to kratom and its derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH, during this year’s legislative session. That was the right call. But the current legal vacuum leaves consumers unprotected and responsible businesses without clear standards. As legislators begin shaping the 2026 agenda, the next step is clear: Adopt science-based regulation that protects public health and supports recovery.
Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia that has been used for centuries to relieve pain and support recovery from substance use. Today in Missouri, it is sold in the form of capsules, powders and teas in wellness shops and smoke stores. Some people use it like coffee to improve focus or energy. Others, especially those managing chronic pain or recovering from opioid addiction, rely on it for more important reasons. Its naturally occurring compound 7-OH can be isolated and refined from the kratom plant, and it shows particular promise as a harm reduction tool.