Kansas lawmakers have taken final action on legislation that places kratom under the state’s most restrictive drug category, effectively banning the popular herbal product and putting it in the same class as heroin.Senate Bill 497 would classify kratom alongside substances such as heroin, making its possession and sale illegal in Kansas. While the legislation broadly targets kratom, lawmakers backing the bill say the primary concern is a potent compound derived from the kratom leaf known as 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH.The FDA emphasizes that 7‑OH is a potent, unapproved opioid-like compound not permitted in dietary supplements or conventional foods. Officials also called for federal scheduling of the substance due to its risks, distinguishing it from the natural kratom plant.