During the May 3rd, 2026 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the widely known host discussed kratom and 7-OH products in a segment titled “Gas Station Drugs.” We felt it was important to take a closer look at his analysis. Most importantly, in many ways, our positions align with Oliver’s.
One of Oliver’s central points was that gas stations and convenience stores are not the right retail environment for kratom and 7-OH products. We agree. We’ve offered alternatives in our proposed regulatory framework (insert link), which calls for a national standard built around regulation of the entire kratom plant and all of its alkaloids, not bans. In that framework, we outline how commonsense rules around manufacturing standards, milligram caps, accurate labeling, ingredient transparency, and age-gated retail environments would directly address many of the concerns he raised. This is what we are fighting for on behalf of consumers.
In the show, Oliver also echoed 7-HOPE’s core belief that prohibition does not work. Sudden bans put consumers at risk and, as history has shown time and time again, do not eliminate demand. It pushes consumers toward more dangerous alternatives and without harm reduction solutions needed. The clear path forward is thoughtful responsible regulation grounded in science and focused on protecting consumers – which seemed to be his overarching point.
Below is an open letter we sent to Oliver and his team:
Open Letter to John Oliver on Kratom/7-OH
Dear Mr. John Oliver and the Last Week Tonight Team,
Our organization, 7-HOPE Alliance (www.7hopealliance.org), is the leading consumer protection and advocacy group in the US on 7-OH, representing thousands of consumer advocates across the country who rely on kratom and 7-OH products every day as part of their efforts to manage chronic pain, move away from more dangerous substances, or simply function in their daily lives.
First and foremost, we want to thank you for bringing the conversation around kratom and 7-OH products to your national audience during the recent segment, “Gas Station Drugs.” Regardless of where people land on these issues, shining a light on them matters, especially at a time when lawmakers across the country are actively debating what comes next.
Today, an estimated 20 million Americans use kratom products, including veterans, healthcare professionals, first responders, parents, retirees, and people in recovery. Consumer research shows approximately 60-73% of users report taking these products primarily for pain management, followed by anxiety, stress, depression, and general wellness support. When consumers were asked what they would do if these products were suddenly banned or taken away, 41% reported they would likely turn to illicit or unregulated markets, while 17% said they would consider suicide or self-harm due to losing access to what they view as a critical tool for managing pain, addiction recovery, or mental health challenges. These stats point to the importance of this conversation nationally while understanding the outcomes affect real people.
We would love for 7-HOPE to be included on your website attached to this segment as a reliable resource of information for the millions of people in your audience, many of whom may be seeking out additional information on these products. Despite a series of nationwide disinformation media campaigns targeting 7-OH, our site is always based in truth and the most current science.
We also completely recognize that Last Week Tonight is a weekly news satire program, and humor is part of what makes difficult or complicated topics accessible to the public. At the same time, for millions of Americans, this conversation is not a laughing matter. We have thousands of consumer testimonials sharing their individual stories of how these products have helped them, or in many cases, saved their lives. As an example, Hunter Yose from Raleigh, NC shared:
“7-hydroxymitragynine has saved my life and brought about a quality that I never thought was possible for me. 7 years clean from IV heroin use and the only substance that I use today is 7-hydroxymitragynine. No alcohol, nicotine, illegal drugs, etc. This has saved my life, my family’s lives and my friends lives. I don’t want to see anyone else die from the mystery powders that are sold, so freely on the streets. 7-hydroxymitragynine is saving lives, not ruining them”
— Cormac Canavan, Atlanta, GA
One of your central points was that gas stations and convenience stores are not the right retail environment for these products – and that these products need regulation. We wholeheartedly agree. In fact, we made this clear in our proposed regulatory framework (https://7hopealliance.org/national-regs-proposal/) which calls for a national standard built around regulation, not bans. Above all else, we want to keep consumers safe.
Secondly, your segment strongly reinforced one of 7-HOPE’s core beliefs: prohibition does not work. Sudden bans put consumers at risk and, as history has shown time and time again, do not eliminate demand. They simply push people toward more dangerous, unregulated alternatives while removing harm reduction options that many people currently rely on.
Most importantly, we believe and agree with your overarching point that the current system is flawed, and that the answer is not prohibition, but rather thoughtful regulation grounded in science and focused on protecting consumers.
We appreciate you helping bring this conversation into the national spotlight and hope discussions like this continue with nuance, science, and the voices of consumers at the center.
Sincerely,
Jackie Subeck
Executive Director
7-HOPE Alliance Foundation
