Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued an emergency rule classifying isolated and/or concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as a Schedule I controlled substance in the state. The filing, effective immediately, will make it illegal to sell, possess, or distribute any isolated or concentrated form of 7-OH in Florida.
“Due to the danger posed to the public, Florida is taking 7-OH off the shelves immediately. This dangerous substance is being marketed to teens and young adults and has a high potential for abuse and death,” Uthmeier said in a release. “We are grateful for President Trump and Dr. Makary for sounding the alarm, giving my office the foundation to protect Floridians.”
According to the release, 7-OH is a chemical compound found naturally in the kratom plant, a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. While levels are often low in kratom leaves, synthetic 7-OH found in extracts, shots, powders, or capsules is much more powerful and possibly addictive.
Moreover, those products are often marketed as natural or wellness supplements, but could have severe consequences, leading to addiction, overdose, and other serious health effects.
The Florida Department of Health has also seen an increase in emergency visits of people under the age of 25 related to Kratom, highlighting the concern. The products are often found in local gas stations, vape shops, and convenience stores, and like many addictive substances, are marketed using colorful or fancy packaging to appeal to teens and young adults.
With its classification as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, 7-OH is in the same category as heroin, LSD, and fentanyl analogs. Agricultural Commissioner Wilton Simpson also called 7-OH "vape shop morphine" in the release.
"Street-level drugs hurt families, ruin lives, create victims, destroy our economy, and wreak havoc on our state," Simpson said. "Today, we fight back with the force of law through this emergency rule. Today, we make Florida and our families a little safer.”
