Scientific studies, medical discussions, and research developments related to kratom that are relevant to New Mexico policy, public health, and advocacy.
In December 2025, NMED banned kratom from all permitted food facilities statewide. The rule ignores peer-reviewed research on kratom as a harm-reduction tool and pushes users away from natural, lower-risk products toward unregulated online markets.
New Mexico regulators treated natural kratom leaf and lab-manufactured 7-hydroxymitragynine as the same thing. They are not. Here’s what the science says — and why the distinction matters for every New Mexican who uses kratom.