Philadelphia has passed a city ordinance that will affect many of the hemp and kratom products sold in our three Philadelphia stores beginning November 12, 2026. Nothing changes today. Every product on our shelves is still available and our stores are operating as normal. To help protect access, all Philadelphia CBD Kratom stores have adopted a donation program in partnership with the Pennsylvania Healthy Alternatives Association (PAHAA), a nonprofit that pushes back through advocacy and legal action. You can support the effort by donating $1 or more at checkout in any Philadelphia store. All customer donations are sent to PAHAA.
01 · What Is Happening
Philadelphia lawmakers have passed a city ordinance that will affect many hemp and kratom products starting November 12, 2026. The ordinance classifies hemp and kratom as "intoxicating substances," ties their sale to FDA approval, and limits sales to adults 21 and older. It applies only inside Philadelphia city limits, which means it affects only our three Philadelphia stores.
Here is the most important thing to know: nothing changes today. Every product on our Philadelphia shelves is still available, our stores are operating as normal, and nothing is affected before November 12, 2026. If anything about availability changes, we will tell you directly and in advance.
We shared our full response when the ordinance passed. You can read it here: Philadelphia Is Voting on Kratom and Hemp Access. Here Is Where We Stand.
02 · One Date, Two Changes
You may hear about new restrictions from both City Hall and Congress around the same time. That is because two separate things are happening, one local and one national, and they share the same effective date. Here is how to keep them straight:
The Philadelphia Ordinance
- A city ordinance, not a state or federal law
- Covers both hemp and kratom
- Classifies them as "intoxicating substances" and ties their sale to FDA approval
- Limits sales to ages 21 and older
- Applies only inside Philadelphia city limits
- Affects only our three Philadelphia stores
- Effective November 12, 2026
The Federal Hemp Change
- Redefines hemp nationwide
- Caps finished hemp products at 0.4 mg of total THC per container
- Applies in every state
- Affects hemp only, not kratom
- Could affect hemp products at all of our stores
- Congress is still considering bills that could delay or change it
- Also effective November 12, 2026
The Philadelphia ordinance was written to align with the federal standard, which is why both share the November 12, 2026 effective date. They are related but separate actions. Our leadership and legal team are tracking bills in Congress that could still delay or change the federal date before it takes effect, and we will keep you posted as we know more.
03 · What It Means For You
If you shop at one of our Philadelphia stores, this matters because the ordinance could affect many of the products we sell there. Unless something changes before the effective date, products you rely on may no longer be legally available for sale in Philadelphia after November 12, 2026.
That is the outcome we are working to prevent. We believe there is a better path than an effective prohibition, and we are putting our support behind the organization fighting for it.
Which stores this affects
Covered by the ordinance
Center City West
212 S 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
South Street
524 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Wynnefield Heights
4040 City Ave Suite 2B, Philadelphia, PA 19131
Outside city limits · not covered
Media (Delaware County)
443 E Baltimore Ave, Media, PA 19063
Outside Philadelphia city limits, so the city ordinance does not apply there.
See all 55+ CBD Kratom locations ›
04 · What PAHAA Does
The Pennsylvania Healthy Alternatives Association (PAHAA) is a nonprofit organization working to keep hemp and kratom legal in Philadelphia. It pushes back against the ordinance through advocacy and legal action, the two levers that can still shape what happens before and after the November 12 effective date.
All Philadelphia CBD Kratom stores have adopted a donation program in partnership with PAHAA. The mechanics are simple: every customer donation collected at our Philadelphia registers is sent to PAHAA to support its work protecting access to these products.
05 · Where The Money Goes
Donations collected at our Philadelphia registers are sent to PAHAA. They fund the work PAHAA exists to do: advocacy and legal action aimed at keeping hemp and kratom legal in Philadelphia. In practical terms, that is the program supporting efforts to protect access to these products for our customers and to keep our Philadelphia stores open and serving their neighborhoods.
We want to be straight with you about the level of detail we can share right now. A campaign like this is still taking shape, and we would rather tell you what we know than guess at what we do not. As PAHAA finalizes how it allocates the funds, we will publish that detail here and share it in our Philadelphia stores. If you have a question we have not answered yet, ask a doyen at any Philadelphia register and we will get you a straight answer.
06 · Why We Support It
Our position has not changed since the ordinance passed: CBD Kratom supports responsible, regulated access, not an effective prohibition. Age limits, testing, and accountability for retailers are goals we share and standards we already meet. Removing safe, regulated options from adults who choose them is a different thing entirely.
Supporting PAHAA is how we act on that position in Philadelphia. The partnership supports efforts to protect access to these products for our customers and helps keep our Philadelphia stores thriving, so the people who work in these neighborhoods can keep serving them.
This is the same approach we take wherever access is at stake. In Missouri, our parent company joined a federal lawsuit for the same reason, which we explain in why CBD Kratom is challenging Missouri HB 2641. For the full background on where we stand in Philadelphia, read our position statement on the Philadelphia ordinance.
07 · How You Can Help
Donate $1 or More at Checkout
Every Philadelphia CBD Kratom store can now add a donation to your purchase. Here is how it works:
- Shop as usual at any of our three Philadelphia stores.
- At checkout, tell your doyen you would like to donate. The donation barcode equals $1.00 and is scanned once for each dollar, so you can give $1, $3, or any whole-dollar amount you choose.
- Your donation is added to your total and sent to PAHAA to help keep hemp and kratom legal in Philadelphia.
One dollar at the register is a vote for keeping access in Philadelphia.
Not in Philadelphia every day? There is still plenty you can do:
Sharing this article helps too. The more Philadelphians who understand what the ordinance actually does, the stronger the case for a better path.
08 · Common Questions
Is this a Philadelphia rule or a federal rule?
Both exist, and they are separate. The Philadelphia ordinance is a city rule that covers hemp and kratom inside city limits, classifies them as "intoxicating substances," ties their sale to FDA approval, and limits sales to ages 21 and older. The federal change redefines hemp nationwide and caps finished hemp products at 0.4 mg of total THC per container. The ordinance was written to align with the federal standard, so both share the November 12, 2026 effective date.
Does the federal change affect kratom?
No. The federal change applies to hemp only. In Philadelphia, the local ordinance covers both hemp and kratom.
Does anything change in stores today?
No. It is business as usual in every store, and nothing is affected before November 12, 2026. Your favorite products are still available, and we will share updates and advance notice of any change to availability.
Which stores are affected?
The Philadelphia ordinance affects only our three Philadelphia locations: Center City West, South Street, and Wynnefield Heights. Our Media store is in Delaware County, outside city limits, so the ordinance does not apply there. The federal hemp change applies nationwide, so it could affect hemp products at all of our stores. Our leadership and legal team are tracking bills in Congress that could still delay or change the federal date before it takes effect.
How do I donate, and how much can I give?
Just ask at checkout in any Philadelphia CBD Kratom store. The donation barcode equals $1.00 and is scanned once for each dollar you would like to give, so you can donate $1.00 or any larger whole-dollar amount.
Where does my donation go?
All customer donations are sent to PAHAA, the Pennsylvania Healthy Alternatives Association. The funds support PAHAA's efforts to protect access to hemp and kratom products through advocacy and legal action.
How will the funds be used?
Donations support PAHAA's advocacy and legal work on the Philadelphia ordinance, which is the work the organization exists to do. PAHAA is still finalizing how it allocates the funds across that effort. Rather than guess, we will publish that detail here and share it in our Philadelphia stores once it is confirmed.
Can I still order online?
Yes. Nothing changes today in stores or online, and the Philadelphia ordinance applies only inside Philadelphia city limits. The separate federal hemp change is national, and we are watching it closely and will share updates before anything takes effect. Browse the full catalog.
