DEA notice in a convenience store among kratom products
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced its intention to temporarily classify 7-hydroxymitagynine (7-OH) and three related synthetic substances as Schedule I drugs. This places them in the same stringent regulatory category as heroin and LSD, following confirmation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that these compounds are highly addictive and lack accepted medical use.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had previously recommended regulatory action for certain 7-OH products under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). These synthetic kratom derivatives are currently available in numerous retail locations, including vape shops, smoke shops, convenience stores, and gas stations.
The DEA’s temporary scheduling will specifically target 7-OH products exceeding a certain concentration threshold, as well as three related substances: mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16. After a public comment period, the attorney general can issue a temporary order to implement this classification. Once official, the manufacturing, distribution, sale, or possession of these substances will become illegal, carrying criminal penalties.
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole stated that this measure is crucial to combat the growing public safety and health threat posed by these highly concentrated synthetic products. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. supported the DEA’s action. Notably, this temporary scheduling does not apply to botanical kratom products containing naturally occurring 7-OH below the specified concentration level.
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