SOUTH CAROLINA KRATOM BAN: H4641 HEARING IS THIS THURSDAY — HERE'S HOW TO FIGHT IT

A full kratom ban is scheduled for a subcommittee hearing this Thursday, March 26 at 9:00 AM. There is no virtual testimony option. If you are in South Carolina, the most powerful thing you can do is show up in person. Here's what you need to know and how to take action before it's too late.

Take Action Now

There are two ways to make your voice heard before Thursday's vote. In-person attendance carries the most weight, but if you can't make it, a written comment still counts.

• 📅 Thursday, March 26 at 9:00 AM — Blatt Building, Room 516, Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee

• View the hearing agenda

• There is no remote testimony option. In-person attendance is the most impactful action you can take. The more people who show up, the louder the message.

• Can't attend? Submit written comments today: HJUDGenLaws@schouse.gov

• Full action toolkit: protectkratom.org/southcarolina

What to Say

Write in your own words — do not copy and paste. Make these points:

• You oppose H4641, a total ban on kratom

• You support reasonable regulation that protects consumers — not criminalization that punishes responsible adults

• Specifically ask them to: Vote NO on H4641 and support policies that protect consumers without banning access

• If kratom has supported your wellness, share your personal story — it is the most powerful thing you can say

What H4641 Would Do

H4641 was introduced on January 13, 2026 and currently has 16 House sponsors, a signal of serious legislative backing that makes Thursday's hearing all the more critical. The bill would do two things at once, and both are serious.

First, it would add kratom to South Carolina's list of Schedule I controlled substances, making it a crime to buy, sell, or possess any form of kratom in the state. The bill's language is sweeping, covering kratom and any "salt, sulfate, isomer, homologue, analogue, or other preparation of kratom," synthetic or otherwise. There is no distinction between natural kratom leaf and the synthetic, adulterated concentrates that federal regulators have actually flagged as the real public health concern. Everything is banned.

Second, and critically, it would repeal the South Carolina Kratom Consumer Protection Act entirely. That existing law established a regulated framework for kratom sales in the state, including consumer protections that responsible producers and advocates fought to put in place. H4641 would wipe it off the books the moment it is signed by the Governor.

This isn't just a new ban. It's a deliberate rollback of consumer protections that South Carolina already has.

The FDA has drawn a clear line between natural kratom and synthetic 7-OH products, identifying enhanced 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) concentrates as the issue, 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. A blanket ban ignores all of that and it punishes the wrong people.

Criminalization doesn't make consumers safer. It removes access to a regulated product, repeals existing protections, and pushes people toward unregulated alternatives with no safety standards, no labeling, and no accountability.

The Right Path Forward

South Carolina has the opportunity to follow the example set by states across the country that have chosen regulation over prohibition. The Kratom Consumer Protection Act, adopted in 18 states, is the proven framework: lab testing requirements, age restrictions, clear labeling, and limits on synthetic alkaloids. It addresses legitimate public health concerns without criminalizing responsible adults or the small businesses that serve them.

That is what South Carolina consumers deserve. Not a blanket ban that ignores the science, ignores federal guidance, and treats responsible adults as criminals.

The Bigger Picture

South Carolina is not the first state to face this choice. The states that have chosen regulation over prohibition have consistently produced better outcomes for consumers and public health alike. The hearing is Thursday. Written comments can be submitted today. Every voice counts, and there is no substitute for showing up.

If you can be at the Blatt Building at 9:00 AM on Thursday, be there. If you can't, send your email to HJUDGenLaws@schouse.gov today. Visit protectkratom.org/southcarolina for the full action toolkit.

The window is closing. Act now.