California Regulators Report 99% Compliance in Hemp and Kratom Retail Sweeps

California officials say 99.33% of 23,667 site visits to Alcoholic Beverage Control licensees found compliance with hemp product rules, while kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine checks showed 97.75% compliance. The sweeps removed 7,403 hemp products and 7,888 kratom-related items.

California regulators are reporting near-full compliance among Alcoholic Beverage Control licensees following a statewide enforcement push targeting illegal hemp products. According to figures from Gov. Gavin Newsom's Office, 99.33% of 23,667 site visits to ABC-licensed businesses found no violations.

The enforcement effort recorded 158 violations and removed 7,403 hemp products from store shelves. Newsom said in a press release that if a product is sold in California, people should be able to trust that it follows the law, and that the state has made rules clear while holding accountable those who do not comply.

Separate checks focused on kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, products logged 97.75% compliance across 8,038 site visits. Those inspections produced 181 violations and the removal of 7,888 products from stores.

California regulators issued a statewide consumer warning in October 2025 declaring that foods, dietary supplements, and medical drugs containing kratom or 7-OH are dangerous and illegal to sell or manufacture in the state. The Department of Public Health published the new hemp rules in September 2024.