Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier signed an emergency rule broadening the state's ban on highly concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), or synthetic Kratom, and other related chemical products being sold in the state while speaking in Tampa this week.
“Today I signed an emergency rule because these dangerous concentrated 7-OH products present an imminent hazard to the public safety of Floridians—especially our children and teens,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “By expanding the rule to include new 7-OH related compounds to Schedule I, we are removing these addictive poisons from store shelves, protecting families, and holding manufacturers and sellers accountable.”
7-OH is a chemical compound found naturally in the kratom plant, a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. However, synthetic 7-OH is found in extracts, shots, powders, or capsules in products at gas stations and local convenient stores and is much more powerful and possibly addictive.
Moreover, 7-OH is often referred to as "gas station morphine." The compound is also commonly marketed with colorful or fancy packaging, making it appealing to teens and young adults.
According to the attorney general, at least 587 overdose deaths have been attributed to synthetic kratom since 2013.
Chemicals covered in the expanded rule are: 7-hydroxymitragynine, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, 7-acetoxymitragynine, 9-hydroxycorynantheidine, 10-hydroxycorynantheidine, MGM-15, and MGM-16.
More specifically, the rule caps products to no more than 1 milligram per gram in solids or pills or one milliliter in liquids. A product containing 7-OH must also include at least 100X more regular mitragynine by mass to stop from having super-concentrated or chemically altered formulas.
In addition, the rule designates 7-OH as a Schedule 1 Control Substance immediately, authorizing the state to conduct felony arrests and crackdowns of the product by manufactures and sellers. Other Schedule 1 drugs include LSD and MDMA (ecstasy).
Violators may face up to 30 years in prison for the crimes.
"7-OH poses a serious threat to public health," Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo added. "These highly concentrated products act on opioid receptors and have been linked to addiction, overdose, and seizures. I appreciate Attorney General Uthmeier's leadership in keeping these products off of Florida’s shelves and helping ensure Floridians have the information they need to protect themselves and their families."
