RENSSELAER COUNTY, NEW YORK KRATOM BAN: TELL COUNTY EXECUTIVE MCLAUGHLIN NOT TO SIGN

RandThe Rensselaer County Legislature has passed a blanket ban on all kratom — including natural kratom leaf — and sent it to County Executive Steve McLaughlin for his signature. He has 10 days to sign, veto, or allow it to become law.

Our voices are being heard. Now we need to turn up the pressure.

This ban goes against the DEA, existing state law, and the county's own representatives. There is no reason for Rensselaer County to go further than the federal government, the state of New York, and its own representatives in Albany.

Contact County Executive Steve McLaughlin NOW

📞 Phone: (518) 266-1900

📧 Email: smclaughlin@renscony.gov

📍 Address: Rensselaer County Office Building, 5th Floor, 1600 7th Ave, Troy, NY 12180

What to Say

Share your personal experience — tell the County Executive what natural kratom leaf means to you and what this ban would do to you. Use these points as a guide:

This ban goes against the DEA. The DEA scheduled concentrated synthetic 7-OH while leaving natural kratom leaf alone. Rensselaer County should not go further than the federal government.

This ban goes beyond existing state law. The NY Legislature unanimously passed the STOP 7-OH bill targeting synthetics while preserving natural leaf. The county's own representatives supported it.

Natural kratom leaf and concentrated synthetic 7-OH are fundamentally different products. Banning them together sweeps responsible adults into a prohibition meant for dangerous synthetics.

Why This Ban Gets It Wrong

The Rensselaer County Legislature has passed a blanket ban that treats natural kratom leaf the same as dangerous concentrated synthetic 7-OH products. That is the wrong approach — and it contradicts action already taken at every level above the county.

The DEA has already moved to schedule concentrated synthetic 7-OH while leaving natural kratom leaf alone. The FDA has specifically recommended that synthetic 7-OH be classified as a controlled substance — not natural kratom leaf. The New York Legislature unanimously passed the STOP 7-OH bill, which targets dangerous synthetics while preserving access to natural kratom leaf — and it is currently sitting on the Governor's desk awaiting signature. Rensselaer County's own state representatives supported that bill.

There is no justification for a county to go further than the federal government, the state legislature, and its own elected representatives in Albany. A blanket ban that sweeps natural kratom leaf into the same prohibition as dangerous synthetic concentrates does not protect consumers. It punishes responsible adults for a problem they did not create.

Kratom advocates have taken this message directly to Washington. In a recent Congressional briefing, advocates urged lawmakers to support natural kratom leaf products while warning of the distinct risks posed by synthetic concentrates — reinforcing the same distinction that federal regulators have already drawn. Read more: Kratom Advocates Brief U.S. Congress in Support of Natural Leaf Products, Warn of the Risks Posed by Synthetics.

As research discussed on the Huberman Lab podcast makes clear, natural kratom leaf has a distinct profile that sets it apart from synthetic concentrates. That distinction was further reinforced by an FDA clinical trial — the first of its kind — which examined kratom's pharmacological profile and underscored why natural leaf should not be treated the same as dangerous synthetic 7-OH. For the latest on kratom legality in New York and other states, visit our kratom legality map. Learn more about kratom legality and regulation nationwide.

The Bigger Picture

County Executive McLaughlin has 10 days to sign, veto, or allow this ordinance to become law. That window is the most critical period for advocates to make their voices heard. A personal phone call and a direct email from a constituent — especially one who can explain what natural kratom means to their daily life — is exactly what moves a local official.

If you live in Rensselaer County, your call and email carry the most weight. If you know anyone in the county, share this with them now. If you live elsewhere in New York, your voice still matters — this ban contradicts state law and sets a dangerous precedent.

Call (518) 266-1900 and email smclaughlin@renscony.gov today. Share this with every New York kratom consumer you know. Our voices are being heard — turn up the pressure.