COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine is urging the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to take emergency action to classify natural and synthetic forms of kratom as Schedule I controlled substances, effectively banning their sale and possession statewide.

If approved, he says Ohio would become the first state in the U.S. to prohibit all kratom compounds.

Kratom is a plant-based substance derived from a tree native to Southeast Asia. Though not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it is widely marketed as a natural alternative to manage chronic pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal. It's sold in powders, pills, gummies and drinks across Ohio.

In a press release on Monday, DeWine called kratom an “imminent public health risk,” citing more than 200 overdose deaths in the state since 2019 whe

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