Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is calling on convenience stores, gas stations and smoke shops across the state to immediately remove dangerous kratom products from their shelves, warning that some products contain powerful opioid-like substances that pose serious health risks.
Carr issued the warning Friday, October 23, while addressing the Georgia House of Representatives Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Youth Exposure to Kratom and Retail Available Substances. He also urged lawmakers to consider legislation that would prohibit retail sales of kratom-derived products unless they receive specific state approval.
Kratom comes from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. It has been marketed in the United States for pain relief, increased energy and relief from opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, health officials warn that some products sold as kratom contain highly concentrated or chemically altered substances that can produce dangerous opioid-like effects.
Of particular concern is 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly called 7-OH. According to the Attorney General’s Office, the substance is addictive and can be approximately 13 times more potent than morphine.
Manufacturers have developed concentrated versions of 7-OH that are sold in tablets, gummies, liquid shots and powders. These products are often available at convenience stores, gas stations and smoke shops.
Carr warned that consumers may assume products sold openly in retail stores have been tested and approved for safety, even when that is not the case.
The Georgia Poison Center has handled approximately 543 kratom exposure cases since 2021. Reported exposures increased 66 percent between 2022 and 2025, and the majority of cases required treatment at a healthcare facility.
Health officials have also expressed concern about accidental exposure among young children, particularly involving products sold as gummies and other candy-like forms.
The Attorney General pointed to several deaths involving kratom products, including two University of Mississippi students who were found dead in separate incidents last month. One of the students was from Georgia. Investigators recovered packaged kratom at the scene, although the investigations into those deaths were still ongoing when Carr issued his warning.
Carr also referenced the 2021 death of 23-year-old Ethan Pope, who died after consuming a liquid kratom product.
Georgia already has a Kratom Consumer Protection Act that regulates the sale of kratom products and prohibits synthetic 7-OH. However, Carr argues that the current law makes enforcement difficult because officers must identify a suspicious product, seize it, have it tested and establish that it contains an illegal substance.
Under the Attorney General’s proposed legislation, kratom-derived products would be presumed illegal for retail sale unless specifically approved by the state.
The proposal would establish a public list of approved products that meet safety requirements, including independent laboratory testing, accurate labeling and applicable federal marketing authorization. Products not appearing on that list could be seized by law enforcement without first having to prove their chemical contents through laboratory testing.
The proposal would represent a significant change in how Georgia regulates kratom, shifting responsibility toward manufacturers to demonstrate that their products meet state requirements before being sold.
The issue has also generated debate among lawmakers and consumers. Some kratom users say natural kratom has helped them manage pain or reduce dependence on prescription opioids, while public health officials have raised concerns about concentrated products, addiction and overdose risks.
Federal health officials have also been examining ways to distinguish natural kratom from highly concentrated or chemically altered products containing dangerous opioid-like substances.
Carr is urging retailers to voluntarily remove dangerous kratom products immediately rather than waiting for additional legislation or enforcement action.
For Georgia consumers, the Attorney General’s warning serves as a reminder that products sold legally or openly in retail stores are not necessarily free from serious health risks.
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