DEA Moves to Ban Synthetic Kratom Compound 7-OH Nationwide

The Drug Enforcement Administration filed notices Wednesday to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and three related synthetic substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, a move that would criminalize the manufacture, distribution, and possession of enhanced kratom products currently sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and online marketplaces.

The action targets what federal health officials describe as a growing public safety threat. 7-OH is a psychoactive compound with opioid-like effects that occurs naturally in trace amounts in the kratom plant, a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. But commercial products—often marketed as "kratom extracts"—contain synthesized or concentrated forms of the substance that deliver unpredictable and potentially dangerous effects, according to the DEA.

"Today's action targets highly concentrated, synthetic 7-OH products, which pose a growing threat to public safety and health," said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole in a statement. "This action gives law enforcement and public health partners the tools needed to address this emerging threat."

The scheduling would apply to products containing more than 0.050% 7-OH by dry weight, a threshold designed to allow for the small amounts that occur naturally in botanical kratom while capturing enhanced formulations. Three synthetic derivatives—mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP), dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine (MGM-15), and the 9-fluoro derivative of 7-hydroxymitragynine (MGM-16)—would be placed in Schedule I entirely, as they do not occur in nature.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which recommended the scheduling action following a comprehensive scientific review, emphasized the addictive potential of these substances. "7-OH, MP, MGM-15, and MGM-16 are dangerous opioids that fuel addiction and put American lives at risk," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

The FDA has been tracking 7-OH products for months. In July 2025, the agency issued warning letters to seven companies marketing 7-OH tablets, gummies, drink mixes, and liquid shots. By December, federal authorities had seized approximately $1 million worth of unlawful 7-OH products from three Missouri firms.

For New Yorkers, the DEA action carries immediate implications. Products containing synthetic 7-OH have been widely available in smoke shops and convenience stores across the state, often sold without age restrictions or clear labeling about potency. Once the temporary scheduling orders take effect—expected after a 30-day public comment period—possession of covered products could result in federal prosecution equivalent to that for heroin or LSD.

The DEA's notices of intent were published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2026. The Attorney General may issue temporary scheduling orders after the comment period closes and at least 30 days have passed since publication. Schedule I substances face the strictest controls under federal law, reserved for drugs with no accepted medical use and high potential for abuse.

Natural kratom leaf products containing only trace amounts of 7-OH would remain legal under the proposed rule. The action specifically targets synthesized compounds and products with elevated concentrations that have proliferated in recent years as manufacturers sought to create more potent formulations.