California has removed 7,403 illegal hemp products and 7,888 kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products from store shelves through ongoing enforcement efforts, according to the office of Governor Gavin Newsom. Among alcohol retailers, 99.33% are complying with the state's ban on intoxicating hemp products, and 97.75% are complying with the ban on kratom and 7-OH items.
The enforcement drive included 23,667 site visits to hemp retailers and 8,038 to kratom and 7-OH retailers. The state found 158 violations in the hemp category and 181 in the kratom/7-OH category. Newsom said the enforcement approach focuses on working with retailers to understand the law, backed by targeted enforcement against non-compliers. "If a product is sold in California, people should be able to trust that it follows the law. We've made the rules clear, giving businesses the opportunity to comply, and we're holding accountable those who don't," he said.
California classified kratom and 7-OH products as dangerous because they have not been tested for safety, consistency, or effectiveness and are not approved by the FDA. The state warned that these products are linked to serious health risks, including addiction and overdose. When combined with alcohol, prescription medications, or other substances, they can cause severe respiratory depression and fatal outcomes.
Retailers that fail to comply with state law may face administrative penalties, including suspension or revocation of their licenses. In separate action on children's product safety, Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 2249, which strengthens restrictions on cannabis packaging, labeling, advertising and marketing that appeal to children by restricting imagery associated with children's entertainment, including cartoons and candy.
California also established a minimum purchase age of 21 for THC-containing consumable hemp products, and continues coordinated enforcement against illegal cannabis activity through the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, which the Governor created in 2022.