Connecticut Bans Kratom as Smoke Shop Crackdowns Intensify Statewide

Connecticut Bans Kratom and 6 Other Substances

Connecticut became the seventh state to ban kratom on February 24 when the state's Legislative Regulation Review Committee unanimously approved regulations classifying the plant-based opioid and six other substances as Schedule 1 controlled drugs. The action caps a bipartisan legislative push that saw House Bill 6855 pass the House 146-0 and the Senate 36-0 last year before Governor Ned Lamont signed it into law on June 25, 2025.

What the Connecticut Ban Covers

The regulations add seven substances to Connecticut's Schedule 1 list, the most restrictive category under state drug law:

• Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) — leaves, stems, and extracts of the Southeast Asian plant
• 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) — a potent synthetic kratom derivative
• Bromazolam and flubromazolam — designer benzodiazepines
• Nitazenes, including isotonitazene — synthetic opioids
• Tianeptine — sometimes marketed as a dietary supplement
• Phenibut — a psychoactive compound

None have approved medical use in the United States. The law does authorize the Department of Consumer Protection to reschedule them in the future if research demonstrates a medical benefit.

Why Connecticut Targeted Kratom

Kratom has been sold without regulation at gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores across Connecticut in pills, beverages, gummies, powder, and leaf form. Its synthetic derivative, 7-OH, is significantly more potent and has been marketed in packaging that mimics familiar snack brands, according to the Hartford Courant.

"These substances pose significant public health risk, particularly to children, as they've been widely available with no regulation or testing," DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said in a February 24 press release.

The FDA has linked more than 35 deaths to salmonella-tainted kratom products nationwide. Synthetic kratom accounts for roughly 2 percent of U.S. opioid-related fatalities, the Hartford Courant reported. Clinicians at Mountainside Treatment Center in North Canaan have reported rising kratom dependence and withdrawal symptoms among patients, according to The Lakeville Journal.

The kratom provision was added to House Bill 6855 — originally a hemp regulation bill — just days before the 2025 legislative session ended. Despite the last-minute addition, it drew near-universal support.

"Kratom is dangerous to our kids," Rep. Christie Carpino said. Rep. Mary Welander called the scheduling "a difficult, but necessary, step to protect public health, especially children's safety."

Smoke Shop Enforcement in Connecticut Already Under Way

The state-level ban adds to enforcement pressure that local authorities have been building against smoke shops selling illegal and unregulated products.

In New Haven, a shop called High Bro's at 1296 Whalley Avenue surrendered its tobacco retail license in February after a joint inspection by New Haven Police and the DCP on January 21 found 0.537 pounds of cannabis on the premises, according to the New Haven Independent. The Health Department fined the business $1,000, and the store gave up its license on February 11. It has since begun converting to a sports memorabilia shop.

Sultan Market, another New Haven business inspected on January 21, had 1.78 pounds of cannabis seized, the New Haven Independent reported.

New Haven has roughly 194 tobacco and smoking product retailers and adopted a 2025 ordinance restricting new smoke shops from opening within 1,000 feet of schools, houses of worship, or parks, and within 3,000 feet of another smoke shop. The city has also introduced unannounced inspections and a "secret shopper" program to catch underage sales.

What the Connecticut Kratom Ban Means for Retailers

Connecticut joins Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin in classifying kratom as a controlled substance. Retailers who continue to sell kratom products after the regulations take effect face the same penalties as those selling other Schedule 1 drugs.

The ban creates new legal exposure for the gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops that have stocked kratom alongside tobacco and vape products — many of the same businesses that local enforcement agencies have already been scrutinizing for other violations. The DCP has not announced a specific enforcement timeline for the new regulations.

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