NEVADA KRATOM BAN: BOARD OF PHARMACY HEARING IS THIS THURSDAY — HERE'S HOW TO STOP IT

The Nevada Board of Pharmacy is once again attempting to classify kratom alkaloids as Schedule I, a move that would effectively ban natural kratom statewide. The hearing is this Thursday, and attending in person or joining virtually is the most powerful action Nevada consumers can take. Here's what is at stake and exactly what you need to do before April 16.

Take Action Now

Three ways to make your voice heard this week. In-person attendance carries the most weight, but virtual attendance and written comments both matter.

• 📅 Thursday, April 16 at 9:00 AM PT

• 📍 Hyatt Place, 1790 East Plumb Lane, Reno, NV 89502

• 💻 Virtual option: Zoom dial-in (669) 900-6833 | Meeting ID: 588 625 6671

• 📧 Submit public comment: teambc@pharmacy.nv.gov

• 🔗 Full action toolkit: protectkratom.org/nevada

What to Say

Write and speak in your own words. Make these points:

• You are opposing the scheduling of kratom alkaloids as Schedule I

• Natural kratom leaf has a demonstrated history of safe use and is not comparable to Schedule I substances

• The right approach is to regulate dangerous synthetic 7-OH products, not natural kratom leaf

• Schedule I classification would criminalize responsible consumers who rely on a safe, legal product

• If kratom has supported your wellness, share your personal story, Board members respond to real constituents

What Schedule I Classification Would Mean

This is not a legislative ban introduced through the normal lawmaking process. The Nevada Board of Pharmacy has the authority to classify substances as Schedule I without going through the legislature, which means there is no committee hearing, no floor vote, and limited opportunity for public input. That makes Thursday's hearing especially critical.

If kratom alkaloids are classified as Schedule I, natural kratom would be placed in the same category as substances considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. The sale, possession, and distribution of natural kratom leaf would become illegal in Nevada, with no distinction between the natural plant and the synthetic, adulterated concentrates that federal regulators have actually identified as the real public health concern.

This is not the first time Nevada has attempted this. A previous effort by the Board of Pharmacy to schedule kratom was defeated after significant consumer and industry pushback. That same community needs to show up again on Thursday.

Why This Classification Gets It Wrong

The FDA has drawn a clear line between natural kratom and synthetic 7-OH products, identifying enhanced 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) concentrates as the real public health concern, not natural kratom leaf. The AHPA has similarly warned against conflating 7-OH with natural kratom. As research discussed on the Huberman Lab podcast and confirmed by an FDA-supervised dosage study makes clear, these are fundamentally different products. Classifying natural kratom alkaloids as Schedule I ignores all of that and punishes the wrong people.

Scheduling natural kratom alongside synthetic concentrates is not a targeted public health measure. It is a blanket action that strips responsible consumers of access to a product used safely by millions of Americans.

The Right Path Forward

Nevada already has the right framework in place. The state was one of the first in the country to pass the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, establishing lab testing requirements, age restrictions, clear labeling, and limits on synthetic alkaloids. That law targets the products that pose real risks while keeping natural kratom accessible to responsible adults. It should be enforced and built upon, not bypassed by a Schedule I classification that treats natural leaf the same as dangerous synthetics.

Scheduling natural kratom alongside synthetic concentrates does not strengthen Nevada's existing consumer protections. It dismantles them.

The Bigger Picture

States that have chosen regulation over prohibition have consistently produced better outcomes for consumers and public health alike. Nevada has an opportunity to follow that example. For the latest on kratom legality in Nevada and other states, visit our kratom legality map.

Attend in person if you can. Join via Zoom if you cannot. Submit written comment to teambc@pharmacy.nv.gov before the hearing. Visit protectkratom.org/nevada for the full action toolkit.

The hearing is Thursday. There is no time to wait.